Wednesday, February 21, 2024

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0335Z February 22, 2024

SMOKE:
Central U.S/Southeastern U.S/Northern Gulf of Mexico…
An area of thin density smoke with several areas of moderate smoke due to
heavy seasonal fire activity was observed covering an area from central
Texas, northeastward through Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri continuing
north into southern Michigan and the Great Lakes. The smoke was also
visible throughout the southeastern U.S into northern Virginia, extending
just off the coastal Atlantic, generally moving southwestward. Moderate
to even dense smoke was seen in the Gulf States, moving southwest into
the northern Gulf of Mexico.


AEROSOL/SMOKE…
Gulf of Mexico/Southern/Eastern Mexico/Southern Bay of Campeche/Central
America/Pacific Ocean south of Mexico…
An area of light density aerosol from a composite of smoke due to
agricultural burning, volcanic ash and industrial sources was noted
over most of the Gulf of Mexico, the Southern Bay of Campeche, southern
Mexico, the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern/eastern Mexico and
northwestern Central America.


BLOWING DUST…
Northern Mexico into West Texas…
Moderate blowing dust can be seen originating in northern Mexico, this
dust is moving generally northeast in direction into southeast New Mexico
and western Texas as evening approached.

New Mexico…
Two areas of blowing dust can be seen in New Mexico today. Moderate to
even thick blowing dust originating in White Sands National Park, moving
northeast in direction into the Texas panhandle as evening approached. A
second area of blowing dust can be seen in central New Mexico blowing
east, remaining within the state’s border.

Arizona…
Blowing dust can be seen in southeast Arizona and is moving generally
northeast as evening approached.

Willkens

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.