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

Sun May 3 15:13:24 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Sunday, May 3, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Upper air charts show a deep, slow moving low in the southern Gulf of Alaska.  A strong west-to-east jet to the south of that low will push moisture into the Pacific Northwest much of the week.  A deep surface low develops off the southern Oregon coast and tracks northeastward toward Vancouver Island Monday afternoon and evening.  This will eventually produce a strong south-to-north pressure gradient across western Oregon for strong southerly winds.  Strongest winds will be at the coast and at ridge-top locations in the interior but even valley locations will see gusty winds beginning tomorrow afternoon.  Good mixing for excellent smoke dispersal conditions and transport winds generally south to southeast.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY - THURSDAY):

Showers continue on Tuesday then another Pacific Front increases rain Tuesday night.  The Tuesday night system will not be as windy.  Transport winds south-southwesterly.  Post frontal showers continue Thursday with a south to southwest flow in low levels across western Oregon.  By Thursday a moist onshore flow will keep shower chances in the forecast for the north but things may finally be drying out in the south.  Even with some stabilization reducing the showers, mixing heights should remain high enough for good smoke dispersal conditions.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SE to S at 16 - 30 mph.
Surface wind E to ESE at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height lowers to 3900 - 4900 ft.
Transport wind S at 24 - 42 mph.
Surface wind shifts to SE to S and increases to 12 - 24 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 26 - 46 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSE to S at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind ESE to S at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S at 22 - 40 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSE to SSW at 12 - 24 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1800 - 2800 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 20 - 36 mph.
Surface wind decreases to S to SW at 9 - 15 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SE to SSW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height lowers to 2600 - 3600 ft.
Transport wind SW at 23 - 41 mph.
Surface wind increases to S to SW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SSW to WSW at 15 - 29 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind increases to S to SSW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 14 - 28 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
Mixing height 4100 to 5000 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind SSW to WSW at 10 - 18 mph.  In the Coast Range surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  In the Cascades surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 3200 to 4200 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WSW at 10 - 22 mph.  Surface wind SW to W at 10 - 18 mph.

THURSDAY
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 WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Monday, May 4, 2009.
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Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 1200 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.)

Zone 615 and 620
Units should be 1500 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.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  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 and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, and 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 607 and 608
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, 616, 617, 620, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  Avoid ignitions north of T24S in Zone 616.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 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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