Smoke over the Metropolitan Area of Miami

[HURAKAN]

During this afternoon, July 7th, the area of Doral, Sweetwater, Westchester, and nearby cities have been felling and seeing the effects of burning bushes in the Everglades. The air has been very thick and the smell is irresistible, furthermore, particles of the burning bushes are falling from the sky all over the area. I have been felling and seeing everthing I have described above. I hope the wind changes direction from west to east so all the smoke could go toward the Everglades and not over the Metropolitan Area of Miami.

FROM THE WEATHER SERVICE:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
720 PM EDT WED JUL 7 2004

FLZ072-074-080300-
BROWARD METROPOLITAN-MIAMI-DADE METROPOLITAN-
720 PM EDT WED JUL 7 2004

...SMOKE FROM WILDFIRE AFFECTING WESTERN PORTIONS OF MIAMI-DADE METRO AREA...

A WILDFIRE...MOST LIKELY STARTED BY LIGHTNING STRIKES...IS BURNING NEAR THE A PORTION OF THE WESTERN SUBURBS OF THE MIAMI-DADE METRO AREAS. VISIBILITY...AS REPORTED BY OFF DUTY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS...IS ESTIMATED AROUND ONE MILE OR LESS IN THE DORAL AREA.

THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EVERGLADES HAVE PRODUCED OUTFLOW WINDS FROM THE WEST AT 5 TO 10 MPH. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW THE SMOKE TOWARD THE METRO AREAS FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO. LATER TONIGHT...
A LAND BREEZE WILL KEEP THE WIND COMING FROM THE WEST AT AROUND 5 MPH...PROLONGING THE SMOKE IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS AND POSSIBLY SPREADING IT FURTHER EAST. SOME SMOKE MAY ALSO AFFECT THE SOUTHWEST SUBURBS OF BROWARD COUNTY INCLUDING WESTERN MIRAMAR AND PEMBROKE PINES.

PERSONS DRIVING IN SMOKY AREAS...ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK...SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SUDDENLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES. PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.