DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0000Z January 9, 2026
SMOKE: Southern Florida… Agricultural fires located south of Lake Okeechobee were seen producing an area of light-density smoke drifting towards the northwest earlier this afternoon. However, smoke visibility in the region was obscured this evening due to cloud coverage. Cuba/Caribbean Sea/Gulf of America… A large area of light-density smoke produced by scattered fires in central Cuba was observed dispersing westward into the Caribbean Sea. An additional area of light-to-moderate density smoke was observed being produced by fire activity in western Cuba, dispersing north-northwestward into the Gulf of America. AEROSOL/SMOKE: Mexico/Pacific Ocean/Gulf of America… An area of light-density smoke, consisting of residual emissions from scattered fire activity and aerosols from urban and industrial sources, was observed dispersing along the eastern coast of Mexico, before extending southward and crossing over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The smoke reached the Pacific Ocean while drifting southwest and northwest along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. 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