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

Sun Oct 18 14:41:02 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Sunday, October 18, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level disturbance tracks across the Pacific Ocean and into northern California during the day.  Some residual showers will continue in the Cascades with some rain spilling into southwestern Oregon from the system that moves mainly into California.  Pressure gradients will be rather flat and wind directions will be light and variable in the north turning to generally north or northwesterly.  In the south expect light and variable winds early then a tendency toward south.  Smoke dispersal conditions will be poor to marginal in the north, marginal to fair in the south.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY-THURSDAY)

Weather conditions will be dry Tuesday with a generally southerly flow to transport winds.  Mixing heights will be marginal to fair most areas.  A Pacific weather front will move into northwest Oregon early Wednesday and spread rain southwestern Oregon by mid-day.  Rain should begin to taper off later in the day.  On Thursday expect high pressure over the region.  The next Pacific weather system is not due to effect the region until Friday.  Thursday's winds will be light and variable and mixing heights quite low. Smoke dispersal conditions will be poor. Recommend not planning units near smoke sensitive areas for Thursday.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2300 - 3300 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

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 2700 - 3700 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

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

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft.
Transport wind E to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind similar to morning.

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

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

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 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind increases to WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1800 to 2800 ft by late morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1600 to 2600 ft by late morning rising to 2200 to 3200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 2000 to 3000 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 Monday, October 19, 2009.
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Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 602 and 603
No burning allowed.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 615, 616, 618, and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605 and 606
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 607, 608, 609, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 610 and 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620 and 622
No burning allowed.

Siskiyous
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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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