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

Fri May 22 14:29:14 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Friday, May 22, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Trost

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

Weak ridging aloft over the Pacific Northwest with a minor short-wave trough passing through the northern part of the state.  Morning low clouds will be a little more extensive Saturday.  By afternoon, mostly sunny except along the immediate coast.  Onshore flow of low-level, cool air caps the mixing height in the coastal zones.  In the interior, stability is just enough to limit mixing somewhat.  Generally northerly low-level transport with a tendency to onshore.  Overall dispersion tends to be limited, especially in the Coast Range.  Suggest burning be curtailed for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

    OUTLOOK (SUNDAY - TUESDAY)

As the short-wave moves east, the air mass continues to gradually stabilize, further limiting dispersion.  Enough heating for fair daytime mixing but as the sun sets, mixing height drops to less than 1000 ft.  Low level wind flow changes little; generally northerly with a tendency to onshore flow during the days.  As mentioned above, with the holiday and limited dispersion, recommend against burning that could impact recreational areas as well as SSRAs.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height drops below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.

Zone 605-611 and 616-623 (North and South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2600 - 3600 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind NNW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind NW to N at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height falls below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind NNW to NNE at 10 - 18 mph.

OUTLOOK:

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early, rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning, and 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind light and variable, becoming NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

MONDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early, 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning, and 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

TUESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early, 2800 to 3800 ft by late morning, and 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable in the morning, becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable, becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph in the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Saturday, May 23, 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 400 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.  A few units possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.
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Cascades

Zone 610
Units should be 800 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

All Other Zones
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA for units within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.  South of T30S in Zone 616 and 617, units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart.
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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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