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

Mon Nov 2 14:44:28 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, November 2, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

** Stable Pattern - Poor Smoke Dispersal Conditions Continue **

A weak pacific weather system moving through British Columbian and northwest Washington Monday and Monday evening will be well to the east of the area tomorrow.  This will allow the upper level ridge to strengthen for very stable conditions over the region.  Expect fair weather but low mixing heights, light winds, and generally poor smoke dispersal conditions.  Winds will generally be light north or northeast except light south or southeast in the southern Cascades and the Rogue Valley.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

Wednesday is a transition day as the upper ridge axis shifts eastward.  Expect little improvement in northern zones but higher mixing heights for marginal conditions in southern sections.  Mixing heights should be near or below 2000 feet most areas in the north.  Winds will be generally light east through southeast becoming light south through southwest late.  By Thursday an upper trough will be approaching as the upper ridge axis moves out of the northern Rockies and into the northern plains.  Winds aloft will be southerly and surface winds will pick up from the south.  Rain will reach the northwest coast late and cover much of the region by Thursday night or Friday morning.  Mixing conditions will be much improved.  Friday expect cloudy, rainy weather most areas with good smoke dispersal conditions and a generally southwest through westerly wind.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind NE to E at 6 - 10 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind NE to E at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NE to E at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind increases to ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind increases to ESE to SE at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind increases to E to SE at 9 - 15 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind E to SE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind ENE to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1800 - 2800 ft.
Transport wind increases to SE to S at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind E to SSE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind shifts to E to SE at 5 - 9 mph.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1700 ft by late morning rising to 1600 to 2600 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 to 2400 ft by late morning rising to 2600 to 3600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind ESE to SSE at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3300 to 4300 ft by late morning rising to 4400 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SSW at 12 - 24 mph.  Surface wind SSE to SSW at 4 - 8 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 2400 to 3400 ft during the morning rising to 4200 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 6 - 10 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 Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

***Complete ignitions by 3:00pm in all zones.***

Zone 601, 602, 603, 612, 618, and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.
South of township 3N in zone 603 and north of township 17S in zone 603 delay ignitions until 11am.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

***Complete ignitions by 3:00pm in all zones.***

Zone 605 and 606
No burning allowed.

Zone 607, 608, and 616
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, 611, 620, and 622
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 617
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Siskiyous
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

==============================================================
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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