DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0103Z April 26, 2024

SMOKE:
Central U.S./ Southeastern U.S./Southeastern Canada…
An area of light density smoke with areas of moderate density smoke
attributed to seasonal fire activity and some small wildfires was noted
from eastern Texas moving northwest over Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska,
continuing north through the Midwestern U.S. and into southern Canada. The
smoke  continues south and east throughout the southeastern U.S. were
it was seen dispersing just off the Coastal Atlantic region. Moderate
density smoke plumes were noted throughout the area and were combining
to create larger areas of sustained moderate density smoke. Cloud cover
over much of the region is likely concealing areas of thicker smoke.

AEROSOL/SMOKE:
Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean Sea/Central-Southern Mexico/Cuba/Jamaica/Central
America/Pacific Ocean...
A large area of light smoke with large areas of moderate density
smoke attributed to widespread seasonal fire activity throughout
central-southern Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Jamaica, and northern
South America was observed today extending from the Gulf of Mexico
through the western portion of the Caribbean Sea, central-southern Mexico,
Central America and into the Pacific Ocean off the southwest coastline of
Mexico. Areas of higher density smoke and aerosols were observed over the
southwest portion of the Gulf of Mexico and the southwestern coastlines
of Mexico and Guatemala. Aerosols from a composite of volcanic emissions
and industrial sources in Mexico, and gas flaring activity in the Bay
of Campeche contributed to the expansive area of aerosol/smoke observed
throughout these regions.

Blowing Dust:
New Mexico/Texas/Northern Mexico...
Moderate to possibly dense blowing dust could be seen originating from
southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico. This dust was blowing northeast
extending into western Texas evening approached.

Saharan Dust:
Caribbean Sea/Atlantic Ocean…
Saharan dust was observed over the central/eastern Caribbean and
northern South America where the dust combines with persistent smoke
in the area. The Saharan dust was also moving westward toward Puerto
Rico. There also exists Saharan dust that extends westward from the
Sahara just out over the far eastern Atlantic.


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