Monday, November 17, 2025

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0000Z November 18, 2025

SMOKE:

Eastern United States…
Agricultural burning was observed across the Eastern United States this
evening. Plumes of light-density smoke were observed from central Texas to
the Carolinas, and as far north as Ohio. An area of light-density smoke
consisting of the light-to-moderate smoke plumes and smoke remnants from
previous days’ agricultural fires was formed across the Southeastern
United States, drifting east into the Atlantic Ocean.

Minnesota/Manitoba/Ontario…
A wildfire in northern Minnesota was observed producing light-to-heavy
smoke, extending across the U.S.-Canada border into Manitoba as it drifts
towards the west. Fires in western Ontario were also observed producing
light-density smoke drifting southeast.

AEROSOL/SMOKE:
Mexico/Pacific Ocean…
An area of light-density smoke, consisting of primarily of aerosols from
gas flaring and other urban/industrial activity across Mexico, mixed
with additional emissions from scattered fire activity in the region and
remnants from previous days’ activities, was observed dispersing into
the Pacific Ocean off the southern coastline of Mexico. An additional
area of smoke was observed along Mexico’s eastern coastline, extending
into the Gulf of America.

GL



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:http://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.