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

Tue Dec 1 14:28:24 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, December 1, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level ridge will continue to build along the coast today and intensify offshore flow tonight and Wednesday.  Offshore flow will clear out the fog in most low lying areas west of the Cascades.  Air mass will remain very stable but increasing wind flow will improve smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY - SATURDAY)

Upper level ridge begins to weaken Thursday as dry cold front approaches.  Offshore flow will be on the decrease.  Upper low behind the front will drop into the state from the north and bring much cooler conditions beginning Friday.  Wind flow turns onshore to northerly.  As the low drops southward, cold arctic-like air will move in Saturday bringing the coldest conditions of the season.  Wind flow turns offshore again.  While the air mass remains stable through the period, enough wind flow will provide fair smoke dispersion, improving to good dispersion on Saturday.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind NE to E at 6 - 10 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 1700 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind NE to ENE at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind ENE to E at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind NNE to ENE at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind N to NE at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind NE to ENE at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NE to E at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

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

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind E to SE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1000 to 2000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind ENE to ESE at 6 - 12 mph.  Surface wind ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1200 to 2200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1300 to 2300 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind NE to ENE at 12 - 22 mph.  Surface wind NNE to ENE at 8 - 12 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

***Avoid ignitions before 10 a.m. and complete ignitions by 3 p.m.***

All Zones
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Cascades

***Avoid ignitions before 10 a.m. and complete ignitions by 3 p.m.***

Zone 605 and 606
No burning allowed.  Some burning is possible south of T20S in Zone 606.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 607, 608, 616, 617, and 623
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609 and 610
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 611, 620, and 622
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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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