High resolution visible satellite picture from the NASA MODIS website clearly shows the smoke from the grass fires in Vernon Parish Monday afternoon but if you zoom in closely on the High Resolution Link (warning this is a large file) you will be able to see the oil slick offshore from the platform that exploded last week migrating southeastward in the Central and Southern Gulf of Mexico.
The Louisiana Coast has been fortunate not to be contaminated with this slick as brisk west to northwest winds have dominated across the area since Saturday. Normal currents in the Northern Gulf migrate from east to west but the predominate winds have been over-riding the natural current forces.
Later this week however, southeasterly winds will return to Acadiana and Louisiana opening the window of opportunity for the slick to migrate toward the Louisiana Coastline. The slick appears to span much greater than 30 miles as reported earlier today. This image comes from a NASA polar orbiting satellite which circles the Earth several times a day at roughly 120-150 miles above the earth which allows for much higher resolution images (but fewer pictures) as compared with typical geostationary orbiters that are parked 22,000 miles above the planet.
As for the fires in Vernon Parish, they were initiated by by a burning railroad box car that was filled by wood. This allowed for three distinct grass fires to ignite leaving a smoke plume to fan southeastward with the prevailing northwest winds Monday afternoon and evening. The fires were reported under control as of late Monday afternoon
Be sure to check with KATC’s Wind Forecast Maps regularly for the latest on prevailing winds.

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