Cali Fires on Radar, 2003, Where Smoke Goes

Some quick tidbits this morning on the continuing California fires. At this time, our Breaking Weather News Page (PREMIUM | PRO reports: "The fires this week burned a total of 474,000 acres, roughly three-quarters the size of Rhode Island. Around 1,500 homes have been destroyed. As many as ten people may have been killed by the fires."

DOWNLOAD* 30-HOUR RADAR LOOP (LARGER WITH CITIES)

Blog readers have asked if the smoke from the fires could be seen on weather radar. It in fact could, and this is not unusual with forest fires. NEXRAD Doppler Radar picks up any particulates in the atmosphere, in addition to rain drops, for example: dust, insects, or even birds and bats. Above is a snapshot and links to download an interesting loop showing the smoke's movement at low levels of the atmosphere between Tuesday morning and Wednesday night. Switching to satellite, My Buddy Scott's Blog [JessePedia] continues to have some interesting satellite loops, including projections of where the smoke, now over the Pacific, might end up, and it might surprise you.

Many people have forgotten the intense wildfires that plagued the state in 2003. As of yesterday, these fires still pale in comparison:

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