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

Wed Dec 9 14:58:40 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, December 9, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The coldest air of the current arctic outbreak will slowly shift east.  But not before the entire Pacific Northwest experiences another bone-chilling night.  Daytime temperatures on Thursday will likely be a few degrees warmer than on Wednesday.  Winds will be light and variable across the region with a tendency to northeast through southeast.  Mixing heights will remain quite low, especially in the north for poor to marginal smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY-SUNDAY)

Upper flow goes westerly over the area on Friday.  There will still be a very cold outflow of residual arctic air through the Columbia River Gorge which will keep northern sections very cold.  A weak weather system will spread generally light precipitation into southwest Oregon.  Mixing heights will improve in the south for marginal to fair conditions for burning, but in the north conditions will remain poor to marginal.  As the precipitation spreads north freezing rain is possible in inland areas of northwest Oregon.  By Saturday most areas will experience warming conditions with scattered rain showers, but areas near the Columbia Gorge will see light freezing rain.  Scouring winds will push temperatures above freezing all areas by Sunday.  Mixing heights will improve considerably and smoke dispersal conditions will be good.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1000 - 1500 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

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 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

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 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South 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 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1500 to 2500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming E to SE at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 2200 to 3200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SW at 9 - 15 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W 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 Thursday, December 10, 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
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 620, and 622
No burning allowed.

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

Zone 609, 617, 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 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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