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

Tue May 19 14:10:55 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, May 19, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The upper level trough that brought rain to many parts of Oregon shifts to the east on Wednesday.  Weak ridging aloft moves in to cut off any remaining showers overnight and give dry weather during the day.  Mixing heights in coastal zones and the interior valleys will allow fair smoke dispersal conditions with good conditions likely in the Cascades.  Transport winds will be generally northerly or slightly northwesterly.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY):

Weak ridging aloft continues Thursday for dry weather.  Temperatures climb to above normal levels.  Most zones will see marginal to fair smoke dispersal conditions while conditions in the Cascades will be good.  Transport winds remain north to northwest.  Friday and Saturday a generally west-to-east flow in the upper atmosphere will prevail, but with minor impulses rippling past in the flow.  These could touch off afternoon or evening thunderstorms mainly over mountainous regions.  Smoke dispersal conditions will be marginal to fair along the coast and the interior valleys, but good in the Cascades.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 4400 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4100 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to N at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NNW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NNW to N at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 4300 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind N to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4200 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3400 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to N at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 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 similar to morning.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1200 to 2200 ft by late morning rising to 2300 to 3300 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind W to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 4200 to 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind NW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 3600 to 4600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to N at 20 - 34 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S.

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 and 606
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 607 and 608
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, and 611
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 616
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T30S units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 617
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T30S units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 623
Units should be 1500 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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