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

Mon Apr 19 14:25:41 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Monday, April 19, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

The Pacific cold front that moves through Monday night brings cooler air and precipitation to the region.  Snow level will drop to 4500 feet by afternoon and continue to drop Tuesday night.  Transport winds will be generally northwesterly and mixing heights will provide for fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

On Wednesday surface high pressure builds into the eastern Pacific.  Showers will be confined mostly to the Cascades but the air mass will remain cool with snow levels Wednesday morning down to about 2500 feet.  A lingering shower or two is still possible Thursday but temperatures will be a bit warmer.  Transport winds will again be generally northerly or northwesterly with good smoke dispersal conditions.  By Friday expect upper ridging over the region for dry weather but suppressed mixing heights keep smoke dispersal conditions only fair.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1200 - 2200 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind increases to NW to NNW at 14 - 28 mph.
Surface wind NW to NNW at 10 - 16 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1900 - 2900 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind WSW to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind WSW to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2700 - 3700 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 4000 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WNW to NNW and increases to 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind WNW to NNW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WNW to NNW and increases to 9 - 15 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height 3700 to 4700 ft throughout the day.  In the Cascades mixing height 2400 to 3400 ft during the morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NW to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.  Surface wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 10 - 22 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 3600 to 4600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

FRIDAY
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 light and variable.  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, April 20, 2010.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

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.

Zone 616 east of R9W and 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S in Zone 620.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 619
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart.

Zone 610 and 611
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 620
No burning allowed.

Zone 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 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.

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