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

Mon Jun 22 14:20:02 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, June 22, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Upper air charts show split flow aloft tomorrow with western Oregon in an area of light, mostly westerly, flow.  Surface and transport winds will be generally northerly early, backing to northwesterly during the afternoon.  Mixing heights will provide fair smoke dispersal conditions in the Coast Range mountains and good conditions in the Cascades.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY)

Upper flow consolidates and a fast moving short wave moves through late Wednesday and early Thursday.  This could produce a shower or two in the north.  It will also shift surface winds to southwesterly for a time on Wednesday before winds move back to the prevailing north to northwest.   The trough exits the region later Thursday and weak ridging develops Friday for dry weather.  Mixing heights remain around 3000 feet in the Coast Range and generally 4-5000 feet in the Cascades.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 1700 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2200 - 3200 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1400 - 2400 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 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 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1200 to 2200 ft by late morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height 1200 to 2200 ft during the morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 2000 to 3000 ft during the morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
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.  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 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 618 and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 620
No burning allowed.  Some burning allowed 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.

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