Sunday, May 1, 2022

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0105Z May 2, 2022

SMOKE:
Southwestern U.S...
The Hermits Peak and Cerro Pelado Fires in northern New Mexico remained
very active during the afternoon hours emitting large amounts of
moderate-to-heavy density smoke. The light and moderate density smoke
were seen moving northeast, extending towards southeastern Colorado
and southwestern Kansas. A patch of moderate density smoke from last
night’s wildfire activity was also observed traveling eastward across
southeastern Kansas and southern Missouri.

Central U.S...
Agricultural burning was observed in large numbers across central-eastern
Oklahoma and Kansas, in addition to central-southern Missouri and northern
Arkansas. Light density smoke covered much of the area dispersing to
the east. A patch of moderate smoke from previous day burning activity
extended eastward across northern Mississippi and Alabama.

Texas/Mexico/Central America/Gulf of Mexico/Pacific Ocean South of Mexico
and Central America...
A large mass of predominantly stagnant light smoke from seasonal
fire activity in Mexico and Central America was observed covering
southeastern Texas, the central and western Gulf of Mexico including the
Bay of Campeche to the south, in addition to central-southern Mexico,
the Yucatan Peninsula, and northern Central America. The smoke extended
further westward for approximately 1,000 miles over the Pacific ocean
off the coast of southern Mexico and Central America. An area of moderate
smoke concentration dominated central Mexico where several large wildfires
could be seen burning. Scattered fire activity with associated moderate
smoke release was see along northwestern Mexico with smoke plumes
dispersing toward the northeast in the direction of western Texas.

WS


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 map:	https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/land/fire/currenthms.jpg
Smoke data:
https://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/FIRE/web/HMS/Smoke_Polygons
Fire data:
https://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/pub/FIRE/web/HMS/Fire_Points

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE SENT TO:
SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov

 


Unless otherwise indicated:
  • Areas of smoke are analyzed using GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST Visible satellite imagery.
  • Only a general description of areas of smoke or significant smoke plumes will be analyzed.
  • A quantitative assessment of the density/amount of particulate or the vertical distribution is not included.
  • Widespread cloudiness may prevent the detection of smoke even from significant fires.