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

Tue Dec 15 14:29:12 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, December 15, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

A west-southwesterly flow aloft will continue on Wednesday.  A weak upper trough will support a Pacific weather system moving into the Pacific Northwest.  Mixing heights will remain fairly high for generally fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.  Transport winds will be brisk and from the south.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY)

More rain moves into the region on Thursday but warmer air aloft will serve to help stabilize the atmosphere and mixing heights will be decreasing on Thursday.  Friday and Saturday a surface high pressure area moves into southern British Columbia.  This will further stabilize conditions and lead to low mixing heights and poor smoke dispersal.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3200 - 4200 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 22 - 40 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 22 - 38 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 19 - 33 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind S at 20 - 34 mph.
Surface wind S to SSW at 10 - 20 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 18 - 30 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 20 - 34 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 3100 - 4100 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 19 - 33 mph.
Surface wind S to SSW at 9 - 15 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1900 - 2900 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 15 - 29 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 8 - 12 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind SSE to S at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind SE to S at 6 - 10 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 13 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 4 - 8 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 1200 to 2200 ft during the morning rising to 1800 to 2800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.  Surface wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1000 to 1700 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SSW at 10 - 18 mph during the morning becoming S to SW at 16 - 26 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SE to S at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1800 ft by late morning rising to 1600 to 2600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S 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 Wednesday, December 16, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 1000 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 500 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 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

Zone 615, 616, 618, 619, and 620
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.

Zone 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions north of T24S.  South of T29S higher tonnage is possible.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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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