Friday, August 16, 2024

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0041 August 17, 2024

SMOKE:
Canada/Central and Eastern United States/Gulf of Mexico/Atlantic Ocean...
A layer of mixed density smoke attributed to a combination of seasonal
burning throughout the United States and the significant amount of
wildfire activity across north-central and central Canada, as well
as the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, continues to be
observed today throughout the majority of Canada and the eastern region
of the United States. This mixed density smoke was seen extending from
the central parts of the Northwest Territories and British Columbia,
through central Saskatchewan and Manitoba, moving moving east-southeast
over the Hudson Bay and Quebec and into the Northeast region of the United
States, before extending further east over the Labrador Sea and parts of
the northern Atlantic Ocean. Seasonal fire activity across the Southeast
region of the United States resulted in a layer of light density smoke
that was seen extending south-southeast into the eastern portion of the
Gulf of Mexico, where it began moving further east into the Atlantic Ocean
towards Hurricane Ernesto. The area of smoke covering the eastern parts of
Canada and the northeastern part of the United States was predominantly
moderate in density, with some areas of localized thick density smoke
moderate density smoke seen throughout eastern Canada, the Northeast
region of the United States and the northern Atlantic Ocean. A band of
moderate-thick density smoke was also observed moving southeast through
the Midwest region of the United States, extending from southern Alberta
and Saskatchewan. With the clearing of some weather systems this evening
numerous fires could be seen starting to release heavy smoke throughout
the Northwest Territories, eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba.

California/Pacific Northwest...
Numerous wildfires throughout the Pacific Northwest region continue to be
observed today, including the Boise and Park fires located in northern
California, as well as several fires throughout British Columbia,
Washington State, Oregon and Idaho.  Plumes ranging from moderate to
heavy, around the sources, were observed emanating from these wildfires,
blanketing the area with a layer of moderate density smoke.

DUST:
A moderate amount of Saharan Dust was seen traveling westward across
the Atlantic Ocean towards with a lighter amount of Saharan Dust seen
over the central Caribbean Sea.

Eglin

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.