NASA Satellite Shows Massive Smoke Plumes Over Oklahoma

Wildfires have been raging across Oklahoma for almost a week now, and the smoke can now be seen from space. The NASA Earth Observatory released an image of a giant dust storm and smoke plumes from wildfires in Oklahoma on March 14, capturing a "dusty inferno."

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-21 snapped a photo of Oklahoma on March 14 that revealed a dust storm sweeping over Oklahoma from Texas and New Mexico, and streams of smoke plumes in central and northeast Oklahoma.

The smoke plumes captured in the image were from wildfires burning near Camargo, Iconium, Langston, Leedey, Maramec, Merrick, Orlando, Pawhuska and Stillwater.

NASA Earth Observatory

Wildfires persist across Oklahoma as new fires spark up due to persistent fire weather.

Since March 14, first responders across Oklahoma have been working to contain existing fires while responding to new fires. According to the latest update from the Oklahoma Forestry Services, strong winds on Wednesday will make containment efforts on current fires challenging and will "pose potential for rapid to extreme rates of fire spread again."

Most of the state is under a Red Flag Warning, which is set to expire at 7 p.m. Wednesday. But the Oklahoma Forestry Services indicated in its latest update that fire danger will remain "firmly in place" through the week and into the weekend for most of Oklahoma. Rain chances and severe storms are increasing for the weekend, specifically in eastern Oklahoma.

What Not To Do During A Burn Ban in Oklahoma

Any Oklahomans caught doing these things during an official burn ban could face fines and/or possible imprisonment, depending on the type of burn ban put in place.

Gallery Credit: Dani