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

Tue Apr 7 14:32:04 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, April 7, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Complex weather pattern is over the region today with an upper level low to the south and a ridge to the north.  The low will spin up some light moisture into southwest Oregon this afternoon and overnight.  The upper level ridge to the north will gradually slip to the east and give way to an incoming trough later Wednesday.  For the most part, expect increasing clouds and cooler conditions as offshore flow turns to onshore later this afternoon and evening.  Onshore, SW'erly flow will get firmly established over the region on Wednesday.  Cooling aloft will destabilize the air mass and make for better smoke dispersion conditions.

OUTLOOK (THURSDAY - SATURDAY)

Upper level trough in the eastern Pacific will gradually move in and bring a cold front to the region on Thursday.  Snow level will lower to 3500 - 4500 ft.  Upper level trough moves through Friday bringing scattered showers and continued cool, unstable conditions.  A minor ridge moves in on Saturday bringing mostly dry conditions but remaining cool and unstable.  Smoke dispersion will remain good to excellent through the period.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind S to SW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind becomes light and variable but favors SSW to WSW.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 3800 - 4800 ft by late morning.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 3700 - 4700 ft by late morning.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind becomes light and variable but favors SW to W.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 3500 to 4500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to SW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind S to SW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height above 5000 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

SATURDAY
Mixing height above 5000 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.  Surface wind S to SW at 8 - 12 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 615
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 602, 603, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

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

All zones except zone 611
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T18S through T22S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 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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