Wednesday January 4, 2023

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0100Z January 5, 2023

SMOKE/AEROSOL:
Southeastern U.S./Gulf of Mexico/Western Gulf Coast/Eastern and
Southeastern Mexico/Northwestern Central America/Pacific Ocean off the
Coast of Southern Mexico and Northwestern Central America…
A large area consisting of a mix of smoke from seasonal fires occurring
especially in Mexico and aerosols from industrial activities also
primarily in Mexico was visible this morning over portions of eastern and
southeastern Mexico, northwestern Central America, and the Pacific Ocean
off the coast of southern Mexico and northwestern Central America. The
smoke/aerosol mix also extended to the north over the Bay of Campeche
and across the central Gulf of Mexico to near or over the southeastern
CONUS. The smoke was concentrating along a cold front that moved off the
Gulf Coast and out into the Gulf of Mexico, which was also helping to
draw smoke northeastward. Aerosol was of moderate density moving from
and southwest off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala with possible slight
enhancement from light density re-suspended volcanic ash.

SMOKE
Oklahoma/eastern Texas/Louisiana…
Widespread fire activity was observed producing scattered light to
moderate smoke plumes. The most prolific smoke producing fires were
located near the Red River. The majority of smoke from all fires in the
area was moving eastward, with smoke moving southeastward from fires
along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Northwestern Mexico…
Fire activity throughout the mountainous areas of Sonora and Chihuahua
was observed producing light smoke. The smoke was observed moving
east-southeastward.

Cuba…
Seasonal fire activity across Cuba was observed producing light to
moderate smoke this afternoon. Smoke across eastern Cuba was moving
westward to wast-northwestward while smoke emanating from western Cuba
was observed moving northward to north-northwestward.

BLOWING DUST:
Texas…
Winds were observed lofting dust from West Texas and moving that dust
east-southwestward over central Texas.

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 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.