Use of GOES East Products in the Support of Wildfire Decision Support Services

Data from the GOES East satellite has played a key role in forecaster operations at local WFOs throughout the country. During the summer of 2018, several large and high-impact wildfires affected local communities across eastern Utah and western Colorado. GOES East data played a crucial role in providing decision support services to emergency managers and fire teams. The 416 wildfire near Durango presented several unique challenges to forecasters. The fire was over 115 miles away from the KGJX WSR88D, which sits at 10,000 feet above sea-level on the Grand Mesa. This put the beam height at around 21,000’ MSL – well above any low-level mesoscale phenomena that could affect the fire. The extreme terrain that the fire developed in presented numerous challenges determining where and when dense smoke would impact the local population. This was the case for several additional fires later in the summer. Additionally, GOES East data was instrumental in assisting with flash flood nowcasting over burn scars through the monsoon season. While the standard suite of GOES channels was used in providing this support, several derived products and satellite RGB combinations previously unavailable to forecasters enhanced operational capabilities. Finally, GOES Geostationary Lightning Mapper data was introduced to AWIPS during the summer of 2018, providing a new way to visualize lightning threats. This presentation will highlight benefits and success stories of incorporating GOES East data into decision support operations.