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

Wed May 20 13:59:09 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, May 20, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Thursday will see a generally west-to-east flow aloft with minor ridging.  The air mass continues its warm up and surface temperatures should be 6-10F warmer than on Wednesday.  Dry weather will prevail through the holiday weekend.  Mixing heights will be in the 3 to 4000 foot range with Cascade mixing heights above 5000 feet.  Smoke dispersal conditions will be fair coastal zones and excellent in the Cascades.  Expect a generally north to northwest transport wind.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY - SUNDAY)

A minor impulse moving through the flow Friday will turn low level flow onshore for slightly cooler temperatures.  Transport winds will remain north to northwest and smoke dispersal conditions will be fair to good most areas.  Saturday and Sunday will see dry weather with warmer temperatures and slowly deteriorating smoke dispersal conditions.  Transport winds remain north to northwesterly through the weekend.
2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NNW to N at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2100 - 3100 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
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 2300 - 3300 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 increases to NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1900 to 2900 ft by late morning rising to 2900 to 3900 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3300 to 4300 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

SATURDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1600 to 2600 ft by late morning rising to 2600 to 3600 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2600 to 3600 ft by late morning rising to 3700 to 4700 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2300 to 3300 ft by late morning rising to 3200 to 4200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Thursday, May 21, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S in Zone 616.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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 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, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.  South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
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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