SMI West (Smoke Management Instructions) Western Oregon Smoke Management Instructions

Mon Apr 6 14:21:17 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, April 6, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The upper level ridge that moved over the region over the weekend will flatten and move to the east while an upper level low pressure area will move into central California on Tuesday. At the surface a thermal trough will shift inland and low level flow will go onshore mid-day.  Computer models differ on exact direction but some areas will see a northwesterly flow but most areas will se a southwesterly transport flow as the winds shift.  The California low will rotate some high clouds into the region but any rainfall will hold off until tomorrow evening in the south and until Wednesday in the north.  Mixing heights will remain favorable for good smoke dispersal, but the main message is the low level wind shift coming Tuesday.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY)

The California upper low will shift into Nevada and Utah on Wednesday and low level flow will remain onshore with transport winds backing from southwesterly to more southerly throughout the day.  Another upper level low cuts off, this time off the northern California coast, by Thursday evening with low level flow eventually shifting to northwesterly.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind E to SSE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SW to W at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 1900 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1100 - 2100 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to W to NW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2100 - 3100 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the north mixing height 1800 to 2800 ft during the morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height 3300 to 4300 ft during the morning rising to 4200 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 to 4000 ft by late morning lowering below 1000 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 to 4000 ft by late morning lowering below 1000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming W to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N 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 Tuesday, April 7, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602, 603, and 620
No burning allowed.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Units may be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Some burning allowed south of T35S in Zone 620.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618 and 619
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 616, 617, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart.

Zone 610 and 611
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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

==============================================================
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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