DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0000Z November 20, 2025
SMOKE: Eastern United States… Agricultural burning was observed across the Eastern United States this evening, producing plumes of light-to-moderate density smoke from Alabama to the Carolinas. An area of light-density smoke, consisting of the light smoke plumes and smoke remnants from previous days’ agricultural fires, was formed across the Southeastern United States, drifting east into the Atlantic Ocean. An additional area of light-density smoke extended south over the northern portion of the Gulf of America and southwest along Texas’ coastline, merging with the area of light-density smoke extending from Mexico’s eastern coastline. Florida… Agricultural fires in southern Florida were observed producing a localized area of light-density smoke, merging with the larger area of light-density smoke extended south from the Southeastern United States. Oregon… Fires located within the Whitman, Umatilla, and Wallowa National Forests of northeastern Oregon were observed this evening, producing individual plumes of light-density smoke drifting north towards Washington State. Idaho… A wildfire in northern Idaho was observed producing a plume of light-density smoke that initially traveled north before it drifted west towards Washington State. Northern California… Despite moderate cloud cover in the region, a fire in northern California was observed producing light-to-moderate density smoke that drifted north towards Oregon before being completely obscured by the clouds. Alberta… A wildfire located in west-central Alberta was observed this evening, producing a plume of light-to-heavy density smoke that drifted towards the east. 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