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

Mon Oct 26 14:36:55 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Monday, October 26, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The wet Pacific cold front that brought considerable rain to western Oregon Monday will be well to the east and dissipating.  The cool upper trough supporting that system will move to the northern Rockies leaving a cool northerly flow aloft over Oregon.  This will keep the atmosphere destabilized with mixing heights above 4000 feet most areas.  Winds will remain brisk for favorable smoke dispersal conditions most areas.  Expect scattered showers, occasionally heavy, during the day, gradually dissipating by late afternoon.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

An upper level ridge builds in the eastern Pacific and moves over the region on Wednesday.  Weather will be dry, however the ridge will progress to the east and allow another Pacific warm front to approach Wednesday evening.  Expect rain Wednesday night and then more rain Thursday as a cold front sags across the Pacific Northwest.  Friday will see showers with another Pacific cold front due in on Saturday.  Mixing heights should remain high enough for good smoke dispersal conditions through the outlook period.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNW at 14 - 28 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNW at 10 - 22 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind NW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2800 - 3800 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 3600 - 4600 ft.
Transport wind NW to N at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 8 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2200 - 3200 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 10 - 16 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the north mixing height 1800 to 2800 ft during the morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height 2300 to 3300 ft during the morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1800 ft by late morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WSW at 10 - 18 mph during the morning becoming WSW to W at 13 - 25 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind S to SW at 4 - 8 mph.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 1500 to 2500 ft during the morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
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Coast Range

Zone 601, 602, 603, 612, 615, 616, 618, and 619
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

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 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W in Zone 622, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

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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