SMI South Central (Smoke Management Instructions) South Central Smoke Management Instructions

Tue Apr 14 14:25:18 PDT 2009

SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

ISSUED: Tuesday, April 14, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

1.  DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623

 The cool upper level low that has been over the region for the past couple of days will finally drop south into Nevada overnight Tuesday night leaving the Pacific Northwest in a northerly flow aloft early in the day.  A few showers are still possible early, mainly over the Cascades.  A weak upper ridge will build during the day ending any showers.  Transport winds should be generally northwest across western Oregon, backing to westerly in northern zones in the afternoon.  Mixing heights should allow fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.

   OUTLOOK (THURSDAY - SATURDAY)

On Thursday flat ridging should keep the area dry.  Expect southerly winds most of western Oregon, but more of a westerly or northwesterly wind in the Rogue Valley.  Computer models are not as strong on the ridge as they were yesterday and thus it now looks like mixing heights will remain higher than previously thought.  Expect fair to good smoke dispersal Thursday.  Models are now showing a weak Pacific cold front for Thursday night and Friday with dry weather returning for the weekend.

2.  DISPERSION

Zone 601, 602, 603 and 612 (North Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 4200 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4100 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3900 - 4900 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1900 to 2900 ft by late morning rising to 3200 to 4200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1900 to 2900 ft by late morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2900 to 3900 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S.

Zone 618
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 619
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T12S through T17S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W in Zone 622, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Siskiyous
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

==============================================================
4.  SPECIAL NOTE:

    Call the smoke management duty forecaster at (503) 945-7401 to
    discuss burning.  Please do not call individual's numbers to
    discuss daily burning.  If the forecaster is not available,
    leave a message and he will return your call as soon as possible.
    Avoid calling between 2 to 2:30 p.m.

    The forecast is available on the Internet at:
      http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/fire.shtml/#Smoke_Management

    Please ensure your units have been planned and accomplished by checking:
      http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/SMP/dailysmoke.shtml

5.  STANDARD GUIDANCE MATRIX:

  * Greater than 5000 ft mixing height:  No burning within 5 miles of
    downwind SSRA.  Maximum 100 tons per mile from downwind SSRA.
    Example:  500 ton maximum allowed if burned 5 miles from downwind SSRA.

  * 3000 - 5000 ft mixing height:  No burning within 10 miles of
    downwind SSRA.  Maximum 75 tons per mile from downwind SSRA.
    Example:  750 ton maximum allowed if burned 10 miles from downwind SSRA.

  * Less than 3000 ft mixing height:  No burning within 15 miles of
    downwind SSRA.  Maximum 50 tons per mile from downwind SSRA.
    Example:  750 ton maximum allowed if burned 15 miles from downwind SSRA.

  * All exceptions must be coordinated with the duty forecaster
    prior to ignition.

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