DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 2330Z June 17, 2026
SMOKE: Northwest Territories… An area of moderate-to-heavy density smoke was observed originating from a fire in western Northwest Territories and drifting southeast. A large area of remnant smoke from previous fire activity was observed spanning much of northwestern Canada. Pacific Northwest… Scattered fires in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho produced light-to-moderate density smoke plumes drifting generally southeastward. Southwestern U.S… The Grapevine Fire in southern Nevada was observed producing localized moderate-to-heavy density smoke, before transitioning to light-density smoke as it extended westward into southern California. The Rock Canyon Fire in northern Arizona produced light-to-heavy smoke moving eastward along the Arizona-Utah border. The Sycamore Fire in central Arizona was also observed producing a light-density smoke plume extending towards the east. Oklahoma… A wildfire in northern Oklahoma was observed generating a localized moderate-to-heavy density smoke, transitioning to light-density smoke as it drifted towards the southeast. California… A fire located northeast of San Francisco was observed generating a light-density smoke plume drifting towards the northeast. Florida… Wildfires in southern Florida, such as the Quarry 2 (13) and Well (13) Fires, were observed producing individual moderate-to-heavy density smoke plumes extending northeast into the Atlantic Ocean. A layer of light-density smoke covering southeast Florida was also observed extending east-northeast into the Atlantic Ocean. Bahamas… A fire on Little Abaco was observed producing light-density smoke drifting northeast into the Atlantic Ocean. Western and southern Mexico/Pacific Ocean/Gulf of America… An area of light-density smoke consisting of remnant smoke from previous days and smoke from fire activity was observed across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, extending northward into the western Gulf of America, ultimately reaching southern Texas. The smoke also extended across southern Mexico, before drifting southwest into the Pacific Ocean. An area of moderate-density smoke was also observed in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, drifting northward into the Bay of Campeche. BLOWING DUST: Chihuahua… Strong winds were observed lofting dust in the Chihuahuan Desert this evening. The dust was transported southeastward towards western Texas. Marrs/Libby 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