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