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

Tue Oct 6 14:45:27 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, October 6, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level ridge axis will remain about 600 miles west of the coastline.  Clockwise flow around that ridge leaves the Pacific Northwest in a generally north or northwesterly flow pattern aloft.  Mixing heights will be somewhat suppressed for marginal to fair smoke dispersal conditions.

OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY)

The pattern changes little for Thursday with northwesterly flow aloft over the region for dry weather.  By Friday the ridge axis moves a little closer and sharpens although it is still some 500 miles west of the coastline.  A pattern change begins on Saturday as the ridge weakens and splits.  This will eventually allow a Pacific system to undercut the ridge and bring rain to the region the first part of next week.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2600 - 3600 ft.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to NNW to NE at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NNE to NE at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 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 NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to NE to E at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NNW to N at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
Mixing height 1300 to 2300 ft during the morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NE to E at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming NNW to NNE at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1600 to 2600 ft by late morning rising to 2800 to 3800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNE to ENE at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  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, October 7, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, 615, 618, and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions north of Forest Grove/Hillsboro or Sheridan/Willamina in Zone 602.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1500 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.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, and 610
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 607, 608, 609, 611, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart.

Zone 616
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
No burning allowed.

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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