Smoke and rain from outer space
NASA satellites have been snapping pictures today of both the California wildfires (yes, they're still burning) and Tropical Storm Noel, now soaking Haiti and eastern Cuba and menacing the Bahamas. They're very cool and worth a look.
Notice how the winds have shifted over the California fires. Last week they were Santa Ana winds, blowing from the Great basin to the Pacific and carrying the smoke out to sea. Now, they've reversed, and onshore winds are carrying the toxic smoke inland to parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Here's another shot, taken on the next orbit, 90 minutes later.
Here's the Noel image. And here's the latest advisory, the forecast storm track and another satellite view.
