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

Thu Oct 29 14:28:59 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Thursday, October 29, 2009       2:30 PM      Nick Yonker

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

Upper level ridge will remain over the region tonight and into early Friday before flattening and giving way to a cold front late Friday and early Saturday.  Currently the warm front is arcing over the ridge and spreading clouds and light moisture over the state today.  This will diminish tomorrow as the warm frontal zone moves off to the east.  Air mass mixes out with the warm air aloft mixing down to the surface and improving mixing conditions, especially north.  Brisk wind flow will also assist in improving smoke dispersion.

    OUTLOOK (SATURDAY - MONDAY)

Cold front moves into the state early Saturday morning, gradually breaking apart as it moves through.  Moisture amounts will be generally light.  Upper ridge will then rebuild Sunday, stabilizing the air mass again.  Ridge moves off to the east Monday as another weak front approaches.  Air mass will remain stable and smoke dispersion mostly poor Sunday and Monday after a good day on Saturday.

2.  DISPERSION

Zone 601-612 (North Coast Range and Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 8 - 14 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 15 - 30 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW at 20 - 35 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind light and variable but favors S to SW.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind increases to SSW to SW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 9 - 15 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind light and variable but favors S to SW.
Surface wind light and variable but favors S to SW.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind increases to SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1800 - 2800 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind shifts to ESE to S at 4 - 8 mph.

OUTLOOK:

SATURDAY
In the north mixing height 4200 to 5000 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height 3000 to 4000 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to SW at 12 - 22 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to SW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1800 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

MONDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1700 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  Transport wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to WNW 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 Friday, October 30, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

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

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1200 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 616 east of R9W
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  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 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 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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