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

Thu Oct 22 14:25:03 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Thursday, October 22, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level ridge has built over the state today but is getting flattened somewhat by an approaching storm system.  The warm front will ride over the top of the ridge this afternoon and evening providing some light rain to the northern part of the state today.  The cold front will then ride through on Friday with increasing moisture during the morning, continuing into the afternoon.  Air mass is quite stable under the ridge and will remain so until the cold front can bring cooler air aloft tomorrow afternoon.  Smoke dispersion will be poor overnight then improves through the day as SW'erly flow increases Friday morning.

    OUTLOOK (SATURDAY - MONDAY)

Upper level ridge will rebuild over the state Saturday following Friday's front.  Air mass stabilizes again.  Ridge will continue over the region into Sunday before another front moves in during the afternoon.  Expect another round of moisture Sunday afternoon and evening turning to showers on Monday.  Snow level appears it will lower below 5000 ft on Monday.  Cooler air aloft will destabilize the air mass again on Monday.  Expect poor to fair smoke dispersion Saturday and most of Sunday then improving dispersion Sunday afternoon through Monday.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SW at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to WSW to WNW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind W to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 9 - 15 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to W to NW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind decreases to WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 8 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind shifts to NNW to NE at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WSW to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

OUTLOOK:

SATURDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 3000 to 4000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNE to ENE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNE to ENE at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning rising to 2000 to 3000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WSW at 10 - 22 mph.  Surface wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 12 mph.

MONDAY
Mixing height above 5000 ft throughout the day.  Transport wind W to NW at 13 - 25 mph.  Surface wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Friday, October 23, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 602, 603, 612, and 618
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions before noon in Zone 602 and 603.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 619 and 620
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T35S in Zone 620 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

All zones except zone 611
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/smi_west/attachments/20091022/c7b4791c/attachment.html>