DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0200Z January 15, 2022
SMOKE:
Southeastern U.S…
Numerous light density smoke plumes, along with a couple isolated moderate
density smoke plumes, of agricultural burning origin were observed from
Alabama to south Florida and North Carolina. Nearly all smoke plumes
were moving southeastward, aside from one or two near Mobile Bay that
were moving south-southwestward. Scattered to broken cloud cover moved
in during the latter half of the day across portions of the Alabama
and Georgia, partly obscuring the view and analysis of smoke. There is
likely at least a little more smoke present across these areas than is
analyzed due to this cloud cover.
Lower Mississippi Valley and the western Gulf Coast…
Just as was seen across the southeastern CONUS, numerous light to moderate
density smoke plumes were observed from south Texas into eastern Louisiana
this afternoon. However, the smoke from these fires was generally moving
north-northeast or northeast. Scattered to broken clod cover moved in here
as well, at least partly obscuring the view of Oklahoma, Mississippi,
northern Louisiana, Arkansas, and northeastern Texas. There is likely
at least a little more smoke present across these areas than is analyzed
due to this cloud cover.
Northern Gulf of Mexico…
A sizable W-E elongated area of light remnant smoke was observed over
the northern Gulf of Mexico. This is likely a result of burning across
the Southeastern CONUS over the past couple days. The remnant smoke was
seen drifting northeastward.
Hispaniola/Cuba…
Light to moderate density smoke from agricultural burning was observed
across Cuba, the Isle of Youth, and Hispaniola, as was moderate density
smoke from a wildfire in southern Dominican Republic. Much of the smoke
across Cuba and the Isle of Youth was seen moving south, while smoke
over Hispaniola was observed moving east then east-northeast.
SMOKE/AEROSOL:
Southern and Southwestern Mexico/Northern Central America/Eastern
Pacific Ocean...
Large regions of smoke and other aerosols from gas and oil flaring as well
as other industrial pollutants were observed into this afternoon. Light
density smoke was observed over most of coastal Southern and Southwestern
Mexico as well as inland over parts of Southern Mexico, Northern Central
America, and well offshore from Southern and Southwestern Mexico over
the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Cloud cover over parts of Central America,
the Western Gulf of Mexico, and the Southern Bay of Campeche made smoke
analysis in these regions difficult this morning.
BLOWING DUST:
Central/Southern Plains…
A cold front moved through the central Plains and into ths southern
Plains this afternoon and has left a dust storm in its wake across western
Kansas, southeastern Colorado, far eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma,
and north western Texas. The dust appears to be lofting from western
Kansas and eastern Colorado and is being blown south-southwestward
across eastern New Mexico and the western North Texas Panhandle to
southward across the rest of the dust storm. Cloud cover obscures the
exact northward and southward extent of this dust storm.
Hosley
THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF
SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES AND SMOKE WHICH HAS BECOME DETACHED
FROM THE FIRES AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE.
TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST ARE
ALSO DESCRIBED. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VIEW A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF THESE
AND OTHER PLUMES WHICH ARE LESS EXTENSIVE AND STILL ATTACHED TO THE SOURCE
FIRE IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE:
JPEG: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/currenthms.jpg
GIS: ftp://satpsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/FIRE/HMS/GIS/
KML: http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/fire.kml (fire)
http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/smoke.kml (smoke)
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE SENT TO:
SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov