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

Tue May 5 14:50:06 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, May 5, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The main jet stream and storm track remain aimed at the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday.  A surge of moisture from the west-southwest will reach the coastline early and spread across the region for periods of rain throughout the day.  Heaviest amounts will be during the morning hours.  Transport winds will be generally southerly early then more southwesterly during the day.  Mixing heights will remain high for favorable smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY):

Surface high pressure off the California coast builds northward slowly on Thursday.  Expect showers during the day, most numerous in northern sections.  Mixing heights remain high and winds Thursday will be westerly in the north and westerly turning to northwesterly in the south.  By Friday the surface high noses into the Pacific Northwest for dry weather.  A thermal trough develops in California and transport winds develop a northerly component.  While weak ridging aloft develops Friday and Saturday there will still be a fairly strong west-to-east flow aloft with minor imbedded impulses.  At this point it looks like dry weather for Saturday, however.  Mixing heights Friday and Saturday will lower somewhat but still be high enough during the afternoons for fair to good smoke dispersal.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3200 - 4200 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 22 - 38 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SW to WSW at 18 - 30 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.

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

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 13 - 25 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 16 - 30 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3100 - 4100 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SW to WSW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind WSW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind SW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.

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

EVENING
Mixing height 4300 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind shifts to W to NW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3100 - 4100 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind W to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 3800 to 4800 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 3000 to 4000 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 6 - 12 mph.  Surface wind NNW to NE at 6 - 12 mph.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 4000 to 5000 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind NW to N at 12 - 24 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 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, 603, and 620
Units should be 500 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.)  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Units may be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S in Zone 620.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 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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