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

Mon May 4 14:53:17 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, May 4, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level low remains in the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday with a strong west to east upper flow over the eastern Pacific and the Pacific Northwest.  Post frontal showers will continue throughout the day with another weather system approaching the coast late in the day for renewed steady rains most areas.  Maximum mixing heights will be above 5000 feet for good smoke dispersal conditions and transport winds will be generally south through southwesterly.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY):

The front overnight Tuesday will keep rain going much of Wednesday.  Heaviest rain will be in the morning with weather becoming more showery late in the day.  Mixing heights will remain high and transport winds will be southwesterly.  On Thursday a strong westerly flow aloft continues, while at the surface high pressure begins to build west of California.  The surface high will be too distant to have much effect on Oregon weather with scattered showers continuing.  By Friday the surface high will finally begin to nose into the Pacific Northwest cutting off showers.  Low level transport winds will finally shift to more northerly by Friday.  Smoke dispersal conditions remain good.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW at 22 - 38 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SSW to SW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW at 22 - 40 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 20 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SSW to WSW at 13 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 4100 to 5000 ft throughout the day.  In the north transport wind SSW to SW at 14 - 24 mph during the morning becoming SW to WSW at 15 - 25 mph during the afternoon.  In the south transport wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind S to SW at 6 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 3000 to 4000 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 10 - 16 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 10 - 16 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, 615, and 620
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  South of T35S in Zone 620 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 602, 603, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

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

Zone 619
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

All zones except zone 611
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T18S through T22S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

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

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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