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

Sun Apr 18 14:28:43 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Sunday, April 18, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Upper air charts show a major trough in the eastern Pacific on Monday.  Flow aloft over the region is southerly ahead of a slow moving Pacific cold front.  Rain arrives during the afternoon spreading eastward from the coast to the Cascades.  Mixing height will allow for fair to good smoke dispersal conditions but transport winds will become variable later in the day after starting out mostly southerly.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY-THURSDAY)

On Tuesday the upper trough slowly moves through the region, eventually splitting with the southern portion becoming a closed upper low over California.  Showers will continue over the area and smoke dispersal conditions should be fair to good with some stabilization of the atmosphere. Transport winds will be generally northwesterly.  On Wednesday the upper low drifts across southern Nevada.  Flow aloft will be light and variable but brisk northwesterly transport winds are likely closer to the ground.  On Thursday weak ridging develops over the eastern Pacific Ocean.  Flow aloft will be from the north or northwest, and while there will still be a few showers around expect a drying trend during the day.  Smoke dispersal conditions should be good.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.
Transport wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 12 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 1900 - 2900 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind shifts to N to NE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind shifts to N to NE at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height near 3000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind increases to SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 4100 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to W at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind shifts to SW to W at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 1700 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
Mixing height 1600 to 2600 ft during the morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  In the Coast Range transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 14 - 28 mph during the afternoon.  In the Cascades transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  In the Coast Range surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 10 - 20 mph during the afternoon.  In the Cascades surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 1200 to 2200 ft during the morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 4200 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable 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 Monday, April 19, 2010.
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Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.

Zone 602 and 603
No burning allowed.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.

Zone 615
Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 619 and 620
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  South of T35S in Zone 620 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605 and 606
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 607 and 608
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, 611, 616, 617, 620, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 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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