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

Mon Apr 27 14:18:41 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, April 27, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level disturbance dropping southward from British Columbia on Monday will develop into an upper level low over the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday.  This will produce periods of rain throughout the day for most of the area.  The rain will taper off later in the day, but showers are likely through Wednesday.  With the cooler air aloft the atmosphere will be rather unstable and mixing heights should be favorable for good smoke dispersal.  Expect transport winds to be generally from the southwest or south-southwest.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY):

The upper low drifts slowly eastward across the state on Wednesday.  Snow levels in the Cascades will be as low as about 3500 feet Wednesday morning.  Showers will continue throughout the day.  Mixing heights will remain high, but winds will vary through the day.  In the north expect easterly winds early, becoming northwest.  In the south winds will start out south-southwest and shift to westerly.  By Thursday the upper low will pass to the east allowing weak ridging to build over the area.  Weather should be dry but winds will again be quite variable; Northwest through west in the north, and northeast through north in the south.  On Friday a Pacific weather system moves toward the state from the southwest.  Rain will spread northward during the afternoon and a wet weekend is in store.  Once again Friday winds will vary with location: In the north generally easterly in the morning then becoming southwesterly, in the south southeasterly becoming northwest.

Main message through the outlook period:  Good dispersion but changing transport wind directions requiring close monitoring and coordination for locations near SSRA's.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 4100 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSE to SW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2600 - 3600 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

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

EVENING
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 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 SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind increases to SW to W at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind W to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

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

EVENING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 3200 to 4200 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind NE to E at 4 - 8 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SE to S at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind SE to S at 6 - 12 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Units may be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

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.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 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

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 616, 617, 622, and 623
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 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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