DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 2330Z September 24, 2026
SMOKE: Canada… Despite significant cloud cover, a layer of remnant light-density smoke from fire activity throughout Canada was observed extending southward from the Northwest Territories into northeastern British Columbia and northern Alberta before drifting northeastward into northern Saskatchewan, eventually being obscured by cloud cover. The smoke reappeared over Nunavut, extending southeastward across northern Quebec, the Hudson Strait, and Labrador before drifting into the Atlantic Ocean. Another layer of remnant light-density smoke was observed drifting eastward from central Saskatchewan into Manitoba. Idaho/Montana… Multiple fires in Idaho and western Montana were observed producing individual light-to-heavy density smoke plumes generally drifting northward. California… Moderate-density smoke from the Dome Fire concentrated near the source, while a regional layer of light-density smoke drifted northward into western Nevada. Southeastern CONUS… Despite significant cloud cover, isolated fires in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle were observed producing individual light-to-heavy density smoke plumes generally drifting southward. A broad layer of light-density smoke spanned much of the Southeastern United States, drifting westward from the Florida panhandle and Alabama into the eastern half of Texas and Oklahoma before continuing offshore into the Gulf of America. An area of moderate-density smoke was also observed along the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas before drifting southward into the northern Gulf of America. Mexico/Pacific Ocean/Gulf of America… A layer of light-density smoke from agricultural burning and industrial activity was observed in the Gulf coastal region of Mexico, spanning eastward into the Gulf of America, westward across central Mexico, and southward across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec before dispersing into the Pacific Ocean. An area of moderate-density smoke was observed in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec before extending northward into the Gulf of America and southwestward into the Pacific. Additionally, a layer of moderate-density smoke was visible along the coast of Sinaloa drifting southward into the Pacific Ocean. BLOWING DUST: Caribbean… Blowing dust from the Sahara Desert was observed lofting over the Atlantic Ocean towards the Lesser Antilles and into the Caribbean Sea. Sonora… Blowing dust from the Sonoran Desert in northwestern Sonora was observed lofting southward into the Gulf of California. 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 map: https://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