Thursday, June 18, 2026

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1500Z June 18, 2026

SMOKE:
Northwest Canada…
An area of remnant light-moderate density smoke was observed in the
northern Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut extending north into
the Beaufort Sea.

Pacific Northwest…
A fire in Washington was observed producing a light-density smoke plume
drifting east-southeastward.

Central Plains…
An area of light-density remnant smoke was observed extending from
southern Saskatchewan into southwestern Wisconsin.

Southwestern U.S…
The Grapevine Fire and Kane Springs Fires in southern Nevada was
observed producing light-to-moderate density smoke drifting generally
north to northeastward. Isolated fires in Arizona and New Mexico were
observed producing light density smoke generally drifting southward. A
large area of light-density remnant smoke was observed from western New
Mexico to California and extending into the Pacific Ocean. An area of
moderate-density remnant smoke was observed northwest of Las Vegas.

Florida…
Wildfires in southern Florida, such as the Quarry 2 (13) and Well (13)
Fires, were observed producing light-to-moderate density smoke plumes
drifting northward.

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 south and
west of Mexico City, before drifting southwest into the Pacific Ocean.

GM


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.