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

Sun Jun 21 14:20:30 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Sunday, June 21, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The upper level trough that was over the region on Sunday weakens and moves to the east but no significant ridge develops.  In fact another weak upper trough moves out of southern British Columbia into northern Washington.  At the surface weak high pressure noses into northwestern Oregon and a thermal trough develops in northern California and extends off the southwestern Oregon Coast.  This will give a generally northwesterly transport flow to most areas although southern coastal sections should see a northerly or north-northeast flow.  Mixing heights should be high enough for good smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY - THURSDAY)

Upper level winds are generally westerly on Tuesday but a fast-moving upper disturbance rides the flow into the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday.  A weak surface front associated with this feature should bring some light rain to northwest Oregon late Wednesday and early Thursday morning.  Transport winds will be generally northwest to north on Tuesday, switching to southwest to west ahead of the weak front on Wednesday, then back to north to northwest on Thursday.  Mixing heights will remain high and smoke dispersal conditions good.  The westerly component to the transport winds will make burning in the north coast range problematical.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 10 - 16 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NNW to NNE at 10 - 18 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising to 2500 to 3500 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3500 to 4500 ft by late morning rising to 4200 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2600 to 3600 ft by late morning rising to 3900 to 4900 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2600 to 3600 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to W at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Monday, June 22, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S in Zone 616.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 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.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.  South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

==============================================================
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.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/smi_west/attachments/20090621/e25846dd/attachment.html>