![\"GOES-17](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/04\/190409_goes17_splitWindowDifference_cloudTopPhase_visible_LAS_blowing_dust_anim.gif\")
<\/a>GOES-17 Split Window (10.3-12.3 \u00b5m),<\/em> Split Cloud Top Phase (11.2-8.4 \u00b5m)<\/em> and “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m)<\/em> images [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>GOES-17 (GOES-West)<\/em> Split Window (10.3-12.3 \u00b5m<\/a><\/strong>), Split Cloud Top Phase (11.2-8.4 \u00b5m<\/a><\/strong>) and “Red” Visible (0.64 \u00b5m<\/a><\/strong>) images (above)<\/strong><\/em> displayed a plume of blowing dust — whose source region was a dry lake bed along the California-Nevada border — which developed in advance of an approaching cold front (surface analyses<\/strong><\/a>) and moved northeastward across far southern Nevada on 09 April 2019. Wind gusts<\/strong><\/a> of 50-65 mph were reported across the region.<\/p>\n This dust plume was also apparent over far southern Nevada in GOES-17 True Color Red-Green-Blue (RGB) images from the AOS<\/strong><\/a> site (below)<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n GOES-17 True Color RGB images [click to play animation | MP4<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/div>There are 5 airports located in the Las Vegas Valley, and GOES-17 images showed that the dust plume passed directly over Henderson (KHND) — time series plots of surface data from these sites (below)<\/strong><\/em> indicated that visibility was reduced to 3 miles at Henderson, with visibilities dropping to 8-9 miles at McCarran International Airport (KLAS) and Nellis Air Force Base (KLSV). The visibility was not impacted at the North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT<\/strong><\/a>), with its more northwest location being farther from the dust plume.<\/p>\n Time series plot of surface data at Henderson [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div> Time series plot of surface data at McCarran International Airport [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div> Time series plot of surface data at Nellis Air Force Base [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>A notable exception was the Boulder City Municipal Airport (KBVU), which was downwind of a smaller local point source of blowing dust (Mursha Reservoir<\/a><\/strong>, another dry lake bed to the southwest) — the visibility at KBVU was restricted to 2 miles at times. With the 2-km spatial resolution (at satellite nadir) of the GOES-17 Infrared spectral bands, there was not a signature of this smaller-scale Boulder City dust plume in the 10.3-12.3 \u00b5m and 11.2-8.4 \u00b5m Brightness Temperature Difference products — however, this hazy plume was evident in the 0.5-km resolution (at satellite nadir) Visible imagery<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Time series plot of surface data at Boulder City Municipal Airport [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>A comparison of 1-km resolution NOAA-19 AVHRR Visible (0.63 \u00b5m), Shortwave Infrared (3.8 \u00b5m) and Split Window (10.8-12.0 \u00b5m) images (below)<\/strong><\/em> provided a detailed view of the primary dust plume — and also exhibited a subtle signature of the smaller plume that reduced visibility at Boulder City KBVU. The small dust aerosols act as efficient reflectors of incoming solar radiation, therefore appearing warmer (darker)<\/em> on the Shortwave Infrared image.<\/p>\n NOAA-19 AVHRR Visible (0.63 \u00b5m),<\/em> Shortwave Infrared (3.8 \u00b5m)<\/em> and Split Window (10.8-12.0 \u00b5m)<\/em> images, with plots of 23 UTC surface reports [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>The GOES-17 and NOAA-19 images also showed that the larger dust plume moved across a section of Interstate 15 between Sloan and Jean; traffic cameras showed significant reductions in visibility along I-15 near Primm (along the California\/Nevada border).<\/p>\n Dust plume visible on @nevadadot<\/a> cam blowing across I-15 near the NV\/CA border! Be prepared for reduced visibility! #NVwx<\/a> #CAwx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hkwlgp9IzJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) April 9, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>\n