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

Sun Apr 25 14:47:58 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Sunday, April 25, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

    MONDAY

The upper ridge that brought sunshine to much of the state Sunday moves east and an upper trough rotates into the Pacific Northwest during the day.  A surface cold front reaches the coastline during the day.  Precipitation will begin on the coast late in the morning and slowly spread eastward reaching the Cascades by evening.  Expect strong southeasterly to southerly transport winds and high mixing heights for good smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY-THURSDAY)

The upper trough continues on an axis from south of Kodiak, Alaska to northwestern Nevada on Tuesday.  Showers continue during the day and maximum mixing heights remain generally above 5000 feet for good smoke dispersal conditions. By Wednesday the upper trough splits and a portion moves east.  Minor ridging develops aloft, but not enough to end the showers.  Maximum mixing heights climb to over 4000 feet for continued good smoke dispersal conditions.  Thursday sees southwesterly flow aloft with a minor disturbance embedded in that flow moving toward the Pacific Northwest.  A surface low develops and moves onshore during the day.  The exact track of that low will determine transport wind directions.  However, cool air aloft will keep mixing heights high.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3100 - 4100 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 10 - 16 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to S to SSW at 13 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSE to SW at 6 - 12 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to S to SW at 6 - 12 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSW to SW at 15 - 25 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SSW to SW at 13 - 25 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 20 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 16 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height above 5000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 18 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains above 5000 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SSW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
Mixing height 2800 to 3800 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SW at 10 - 18 mph.  Surface wind S to SW at 8 - 14 mph.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to W at 6 - 12 mph.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height 1800 to 2800 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 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 Monday, April 26, 2010.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 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
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 615, 618, 619, and 620
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

All zones except zone 611
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T18S through T22S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.  Avoid ignitions north of T24S in Zone 616.

Zone 611
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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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