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

Tue Apr 21 14:27:51 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, April 21, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level trough extending southwestward from a low in northern Alberta begins to move into the northwest Washington during the day on Wednesday.  Temperatures aloft will be cooling dramatically, destabilizing the atmosphere and providing good smoke dispersal conditions.  There will be limited moisture with this trough but some isolated showers are possible.  Expect transport winds to be generally northwesterly most areas.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY - SATURDAY):

The upper level trough sweeps through the region on Thursday further destabilizing the atmosphere over the Pacific Northwest.  Again, limited moisture, but showers are possible especially over mountainous areas.  By Friday the trough axis will be east of the Cascades and western Oregon will be in a generally dry, northerly flow on the back side of the trough.  However there will still be a slight chance of a shower over the Cascades.  Saturday will see the upper trough well to the east, over the northern Rockies with surface high pressure centered several hundred miles west of Oregon.  A minor upper disturbance dropping south-southeast will cause some instability for a continued slight chance of a shower but also continued good smoke dispersal conditions.  Transport winds through the outlook period should stay in the west through north quadrant.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3900 - 4900 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 10 - 20 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 4400 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to WNW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to NNW at 13 - 25 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 4300 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind decreases to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2400 - 3400 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NW at 10 - 22 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3900 - 4900 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind decreases to NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 3600 to 4600 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3600 to 4600 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

SATURDAY
Mixing height 3600 to 4600 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 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 22, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
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.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S in Zone 616.

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 2000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 618 and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

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 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610, 611, and 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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