DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1640Z January 16, 2023

SMOKE:

Cuba…
A patch of thin density smoke from seasonal fire activities was
observed over western Cuba and extending into the Caribbean Sea. In
addition,numerous smoke plumes of primarily thin density were visible
from what is believed to be mostly seasonal fires scattered across
Cuba. The smoke was observed spreading over the nearby Caribbean.

SMOKE/AEROSOL:
Southern Texas/Southern and Eastern Mexico/Northwestern Central
America/Western Gulf of Mexico/Bay of Campeche/Pacific Ocean south of
Mexico and Northwestern Central America…
A combination of thin density smoke from seasonal burning in Mexico and
generally thin density aerosols from industrial activity in Mexico was
present from the Bay of Campeche and eastern Mexico northward over the
western Gulf of Mexico and into southern Texas. Cloud cover north of
southern Texas and east of the Gulf of Mexico prevented additional
information on the extent of the smoke/aerosol in that region.
The smoke/aerosol mix also covered southern Mexico and a portion of
Northwestern Central America and extended from those locations well to
the south over the Pacific Ocean. In addition patches of moderate dense
smoke/aerosol mix was observed in southwestern Mexico, extending south
into the Pacific Ocean, and eastern Mexico.

Nguyen


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.