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

Thu Oct 1 14:31:56 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Thursday, October 1, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Flat ridge over the state today is keeping skies mostly fair but an upper level trough will develop to the northwest and move in on Friday.  Expect increasing clouds with a chance of some light showers.  Because the system is dropping down from the northwest, moisture will be light and limited.  Cooler temperatures will follow Friday evening with the snow level dropping down to 4000 - 5000 ft.  Air mass will remain mostly unstable, and with light to moderate NW flow, will make for good smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (SATURDAY - MONDAY)

Upper level low continues to drop southward Sunday and forms into a chilly upper level low over the state.  This low will gradually slip to the southeast Sunday leaving the region under chilly northerly to offshore flow through Monday.  Air mass will remain mostly unstable except for brief late night and early morning stability.  Air mass will dry Monday as moisture moves off to the east with the low and a high pressure ridge noses in from the west.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 3000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable but favors WNW to NNW.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 3000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable but favors WNW to NNW.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 3000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 3000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind light and variable but favors WNW to NNW.
Surface wind light and variable but favors WNW to NNW.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

SATURDAY
Mixing height 3000 to 4000 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

SUNDAY
Mixing height 2800 to 3800 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 8 - 14 mph.  Surface wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

MONDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNE to ENE at 8 - 14 mph.  Surface wind NE to E at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NNW to NE at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Friday, October 2, 2009.
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Coast Range

All Zones
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

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.

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.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

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