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

Wed May 6 14:32:32 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, May 6, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level trough in the eastern Pacific is ejecting a frontal system through the region today.  Front will move east of the region tonight with moisture diminishing.  Cooler air moving in aloft will lower the snow level down to 4000 - 5000 ft tomorrow.  With the upper trough moving through tomorrow, expect a continued chance of showers.  The threat of showers end by Thursday evening.  Air mass will continue unstable and smoke dispersion good through tomorrow.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY - SUNDAY)

Flat upper level ridge will dry out and stabilize the air mass early Friday.  However, daytime heating should bring mixing levels up into the good category again.  Generally the pattern will remain dry and tranquil through Sunday.  A trough will approach Sunday and bring a marine push Sunday afternoon.  Air mass will maintain a stable morning, unstable afternoon pattern through the period.  Wind flow will remain mainly light, favoring northerly flow Friday and Saturday, then turn onshore on Sunday.  Smoke dispersion will be mostly fair.

2.  DISPERSION

Zone 601-612 (North Coast Range and Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WSW to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 615-623 (South Coast Range and Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3200 - 4200 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 4000 to 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to ENE at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNW to N at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3500 to 4500 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

SUNDAY
Mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming W to NW at 6 - 12 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.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Thursday, May 7, 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.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S.

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

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610, 611, and 622
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W in Zone 622, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 620
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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