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

Mon Jun 8 16:30:24 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, June 8, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper low over southern Alberta and Saskatchewan is moving slowly eastward.  In its wake a rather ill-defined upper flow over the Pacific Northwest.  Thus no extremes of weather are expected.  Low level flow will be generally onshore.  Temperatures should be near seasonal averages and there is a slight chance of an afternoon shower developing, otherwise expect generally partly cloudy skies.  Mixing heights will allow for good smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY)

As the Canadian upper low moves east another, weak and ill defined, upper low develops off the coast.  Low level flow will remain onshore for temperatures remaining near average.  Late in the week the upper low becomes more organized and upper flow across the region becomes generally southwesterly.  There is a very slight chance of a shower each day.  Transport winds should be generally onshore, and mixing heights should provide fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind increases to WSW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WSW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.

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

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

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

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4200 - 5200 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 2800 to 3800 ft during the morning rising to 4300 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2800 to 3800 ft by late morning rising to 3600 to 4600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3100 to 4100 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, June 9, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Units may be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

Zone 615
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W and 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S in Zone 620.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 619
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 616, 617, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610, 611, and 620
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 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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