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

Wed Oct 28 14:29:37 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, October 28, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level ridge continues to build over the state but is being overrun by clouds from a warm front off the coast.  This front will slowly move into the state overnight and Thursday bringing light moisture that will be mainly confined to the north half of the state.  Air mass will remain stable as warming air aloft continues to enhance the lower level temperature inversion.  Increasing wind flow from the south should provide fair smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY - SUNDAY)

Upper ridge with warm front clouds and light moisture continues through Friday before the ridge flattens and gives way to a cold front Friday evening to Saturday morning.  Moisture amounts with the cold front will also be fairly light.  Air mass will destabilize Saturday for a brief period before stabilizing again Saturday night and Sunday as the upper ridge rebuilds again.  Wind flow will increase ahead of the front on Friday providing decent smoke dispersion.  Winds then decrease on Saturday and become quite light on Sunday, making that day the worst for smoke dispersion.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 2200 - 3200 ft by late morning.
Transport wind S to SSW at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SW to WSW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 8 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SSW to WSW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind S to SW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 2000 ft early rising to 1700 - 2700 ft by late morning.
Transport wind SE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 1800 - 2800 ft.
Transport wind shifts to SW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable but favors S to W and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable but favors SW to W.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early, rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 3000 to 4000 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning rising to 2300 to 3300 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to SW at 8 - 14 mph during the morning becoming SW to WSW at 18 - 30 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming SSW to SW at 10 - 16 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height 2300 to 3300 ft during the morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind W to NW at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind W to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the afternoon.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1700 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming S to SW at 6 - 10 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 Thursday, October 29, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602 and 603
No burning allowed.  Some small units are possible along the western edge of the zones.  Call the forecaster.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Units may be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618, 619, and 620
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T35S in Zone 620 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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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