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

Thu Dec 3 14:24:01 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Thursday, December 3, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level ridge is flattening today and will open the door for a trough and cold front to drop down from the north.  Cooler air will move in tomorrow afternoon and start destabilizing the air mass.  Clouds will increase on Friday but moisture will likely be very light to non-existent.  Wind flow turns onshore from the northwest.  Expect improving smoke dispersion through the day.

    OUTLOOK (SATURDAY - MONDAY)

Cold front and trough will drop to the south on Saturday bringing cooler but mainly dry air to the region.  Air mass will continue to destabilize but still remain somewhat stable.  Wind flow turns offshore.  Another trough and more arctic-like air mass will drop southward on Sunday bringing very chilly and unstable conditions.  Again, moisture will be limited but some snow flurries or snow showers down to the valley floors are possible.  Arctic northerly to easterly flow will continue into Monday.  Expect mostly good smoke dispersion through the period.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 1700 ft by late morning.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind NNW to N at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 1600 ft by late morning.
Transport wind light and variable but favors WNW to NNW.
Surface wind light and variable but favors W to NW and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2200 - 3200 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind increases to SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind shifts to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to NNW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable but favors W to NW.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

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

OUTLOOK:

SATURDAY
In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early, rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 2800 to 3800 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning rising to 2200 to 3200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNE to ENE at 10 - 16 mph.  Surface wind NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3500 to 4500 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NE to ENE at 10 - 16 mph.  Surface wind NE to E at 6 - 12 mph.

MONDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 2800 to 3800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NE to E at 10 - 20 mph.  Surface wind ENE to E at 8 - 14 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Friday, December 4, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615, 618, and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 610
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
No burning allowed.

Zone 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

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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