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

Wed Dec 16 14:30:08 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, December 16, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Moist and mild SW'erly jet stream will continue to bring frontal systems into the region.  Showers from yesterday's front continue today.  They will taper off tonight and then a warm front will move in tomorrow morning to afternoon bringing more moisture and breezy conditions.  A cold front will follow late Thursday.  Mild air mass aloft will cap mixing heights near the 2500 - 3000 ft level.  However, brisk southerly winds will make for decent smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY - SUNDAY)

Cold front will move through early Friday with drying conditions through the day for a break from the wet weather.  Next warm front arrives early Saturday then will be followed by a cold front on Sunday.  Air mass will remain somewhat stable through the period under mild air aloft.  Smoke dispersion will be generally fair through the period, varying as fronts move through.

2.  DISPERSION

Zone 601-612 (North Coast Range and Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind S at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind SE to S at 10 - 20 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 2200 - 3200 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 18 - 30 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 16 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind SE to SSW at 9 - 15 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 15 - 30 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SE to SSW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SE to S at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind SE to S at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
In the north mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height 1500 to 2500 ft throughout the day.  In the Coast Range transport wind SSW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  In the Cascades transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind S to SW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height 1200 to 2200 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind S to SSW at 12 - 22 mph.  Surface wind SE to S at 6 - 12 mph.

SUNDAY
Mixing height 1800 to 2800 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind S to SSW at 18 - 30 mph.  Surface wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Thursday, December 17, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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 15 miles apart, and 15 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 15 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618, 619, and 620
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, and 611
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 607 and 608
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 616
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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 1500 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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