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

Tue Nov 10 14:29:21 PST 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, November 10, 2009            2:30 PM           Jim Trost

NOTE:  The forecast office will be closed Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.  A forecast and instruction will be issued by approximately 8:00 AM Thursday morning.

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

Next upper level trough moves toward the coast bring rain to most of western Oregon.  Amounts heavier in the north.  Low level flow southwesterly early, shifting to more west to northwest in the afternoon.  Air mass tends to destabilize as the trough nears but mixing still a bit limited in the afternoon.  Daytime smoke dispersion fairly good but mixing worsens quickly in the evening.  This could create problems for residual smoke from units near SSRAs.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY - SATURDAY)

Unsettled weather continues to the weekend.  Then on Saturday a ridge drifts over the Pacific Northwest.  This will bring the mixing height down somewhat.  Periods of rain or showers likely through Friday but with the ridging, Saturday should be mostly dry.  Organized transport and fair mixing should facilitate burning through the period.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2600 - 3600 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable, controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3200 - 4200 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height falls below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2100 - 3100 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3700 - 4700 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind S to SSW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable, controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2700 - 3700 ft.
Transport wind SW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

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

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2400 - 3400 ft.
Transport wind SSE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable, controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SSW to W at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height falls below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind similar to morning.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 1800 to 2800 ft during the morning, rising to 2700 to 3700 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early, 1800 to 2800 ft by late morning and 3400 to 4400 ft in the afternoon.  Transport wind W to NW at 10 - 20 mph during the morning and W to NW at 6 - 12 mph in the afternoon.  Surface wind WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph in the morning, becoming light and variable during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early, rising to 1000 to 1600 ft by late morning and 2900 to 3900 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind W to NW at 10 - 20 mph during the morning and S to SSW at 12 - 24 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind ESE to S at 4 - 8 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, November 11, 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.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  South of T29S in Zone 616, units may be up to 1000 tons.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, units may be up to 1000 tons.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T29S in Zone 616, units may be up to 1250 tons.

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

Zone 619
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
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Cascades

Zone 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 15 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.
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Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Limit units below 3000 ft elevation to 500 tons or less.
==============================================================
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.

A graphical example of this matrix is available on the Internet at:  http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/Daily/Std_Guide.png

  * All exceptions must be coordinated with the duty forecaster
    prior to ignition.

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