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

Mon Oct 19 14:22:47 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, October 19, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

An upper level ridge moves west-to-east over Oregon during the day on Tuesday.  Surface pressure gradients will be weak for light winds most areas.  Mixing heights will be suppressed for only marginal smoke dispersal conditions.

OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

The ridge axis moves east and an upper trough moves into British Columbia and Washington on Wednesday.  The trailing cold front will bring rain to northwest Oregon early, with the rain spreading to southwest Oregon by afternoon.  Amounts will be light, generally less than a half an inch and even lighter in southern zones.  Transport winds will pick up and be generally from the southwest except for light flow in the vicinity of the Rogue Valley.  Thursday and Friday an upper ridge builds over the area for dry weather but also light winds and low mixing heights.  Thus smoke dispersal conditions will be poor both days.  Recommend not planning units near smoke sensitive areas Thursday and Friday.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 1900 ft.
Transport wind ESE to SSE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind increases to SE to S at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

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

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind increases to N to S at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 1900 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

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

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind increases to WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

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

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 2100 to 3100 ft during the morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SW at 10 - 18 mph.  Surface wind S to SW at 6 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SSW to W at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1900 to 2900 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1600 ft by late morning rising to 2100 to 3100 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.
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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.

Zone 602 and 603
No burning allowed.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S.  Call the forecaster.

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, 616, 617, 622, 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 620
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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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