DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 1500Z May 14, 2026
SMOKE: Southeastern CONUS… Scattered fires throughout southeastern CONUS generated light to moderate-density smoke generally drifting to the south or southeast. Idaho/Utah/Wyoming… Isolated fires in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah generated light-density smoke drifting eastward, southeastward, and southwestward, respectively. SMOKE/AEROSOL: Mexico/Pacific Ocean/Gulf of America/Central America… Smoke from fire activity, aerosol emissions from gas flaring and other industrial activities, as well as remnant smoke from previous days contributed to a widespread layer of light-density smoke/aerosol that was observed extending north across the Gulf into the Southeastern United States and continuing eastward over the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America before drifting into the Gulf of Honduras. Light-density smoke was also seen extending from the Mexican Gulf coast across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec before drifting into the Pacific off the coasts of Mexico and Central America. Large areas of moderate-density smoke were observed across central Honduras, along the Mexican gulf coast extending south into northwestern Guatemala, and along southwestern coastal Mexico and extending westward 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