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

Tue May 26 14:55:45 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, May 26, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The jet stream shifts northward on Wednesday as high pressure builds aloft.  Dry weather will prevail across the entire Pacific Northwest.  Temperatures should be up about five degrees from Tuesday.  Mixing heights at the coast will be somewhat limited but during the afternoon should provide for fair smoke dispersal.  Cascades will see good to excellent smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY)

The upper level high pressure area continues to build.  The high center will be over the Great Basin and clockwise flow around the high could bring some moisture north for the possibility of afternoon or early evening thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, mainly over the southern Cascades.  Mixing heights will remain favorable for good smoke dispersal conditions. A weather system moving across British Columbia flattens the ridge Friday and turns upper flow more southwesterly with lessons the chance for thunderstorms.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2200 - 3200 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

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

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 10 - 16 mph.

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

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2600 - 3600 ft by late morning.
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 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1900 ft by late morning rising to 1800 to 2800 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1800 to 2800 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising to 2500 to 3500 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3800 to 4800 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

SATURDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising to 2800 to 3800 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 to 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602, 603, and 620
No burning allowed.  Some burning is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.  Some burning allowed south of the Rogue River in Zone 620.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 618 and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

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 8 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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