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

Mon Dec 7 14:15:37 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, December 7, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Cold weather will continue.  Upper flow over the Pacific Northwest is essentially northerly.  A weak upper trough will drop down on the northerly flow.  Satellite pictures show some clouds with this feature but computer models indicate very limited moisture.  There could be a scattered snow shower or two but I expect no significant accumulation.
Mixing heights will generally range in the low 2000 to low 3000 foot range for marginal to fair smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

A dry upper flow continues over the northwest Wednesday, however following the passage of Tuesday's weak upper trough the flow turns a little more north-northwest.  The air mass stabilizes for less favorable smoke dispersal conditions. Northwesterly flow aloft continues in the north on Thursday but westerly flow aloft begins to push into northern California and SW Oregon.  There will be a chance for some precipitation in the south and it would be snow except at the very lowest elevations.  At this point it looks like precipitation amounts will be limited, however.  A weak upper disturbance moves over southern Oregon and northern California Friday to improve conditions in the south.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 1600 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2400 - 3400 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 1600 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2400 - 3400 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind increases to WSW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to WSW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1600 to 2600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNE to ENE at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1400 to 2400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1200 to 2200 ft by late morning rising to 2000 to 3000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SW at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

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

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 602 and 603
No burning allowed.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 618 and 619
Units should be 1500 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.

Cascades

Zone 605 and 606
No burning allowed.

Zone 607, 608, 609, 616, 617, 620, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 610 and 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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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