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

Wed Jul 7 14:23:55 PDT 2010

SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

ISSUED: Wednesday, July 7, 2010       2:30 PM      Pete Parsons

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

    THURSDAY

A weak upper-level trough will approach the southern Oregon and northern California coast with increasing light southerly flow aloft over southwestern Oregon.  The surface thermal trough will shift into the western interior around midday with mostly northerly transport winds along the coast and over the coast range.  Transport winds may turn slightly onshore in the afternoon, especially in the western zones, as the surface thermal trough shifts eastward to over the Cascades. Near record high temperatures are likely east of the coastal range crest, especially across the northern zones.

Cooler low-level marine air will begin seeping inland and will act to suppress afternoon mixing heights across the coastal range, especially south.  Higher mixing heights should prevail over the Cascades.  Smoke dispersal conditions should be generally fair to good, but watch for transport winds shifting to more onshore in the afternoon, especially across the western zones.

     OUTLOOK (FRIDAY-SUNDAY)

A weak upper-level trough will move over Oregon Friday and force the surface thermal trough east of the Cascades.  Some morning clouds could briefly penetrate east of the coastal range.  Inland temperatures will remain above normal, but increasing onshore flow will likely provide several degrees of cooling compared to Thursday.  A dry north to northwesterly flow aloft is forecast for Saturday and Sunday with weak onshore flow maintaining above normal temperatures and fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1300 - 2300 ft by late morning.

Transport wind N to NE at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind light and variable but favors N to NE and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON

Mixing height rising to 3300 - 4300 ft.

Transport wind NW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.

Surface wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING

Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.

Transport wind NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

Surface wind W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 605-611 and 616-623 (North and South Cascades):

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3500 - 4500 ft by late morning.

Transport wind light and variable but favors N to E and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind light and variable but favors N to E and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON

Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.

Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.

Surface wind increases to NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING

Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.

Transport wind similar to afternoon.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1200 - 2200 ft by late morning.

Transport wind NNW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind light and variable but favors NW to N and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON

Mixing height rising to 2900 - 3900 ft.

Transport wind similar to morning.

Surface wind increases to NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING

Mixing height 1000 - 2000 ft.

Transport wind similar to afternoon.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY

In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1800 to 2800 ft by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 3900 to 4900 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising to 3500 to 4500 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

SUNDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N 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 Thursday, July 8, 2010.

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Coast Range

***Complete ignitions by 11 a.m. in Zone 601, 602, 603 and 612.***

Zone 601, 602, 603, 612, 618, and 619

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs. South of T12S in zones 603 and 612 call the forecaster.

Zone 615

Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 west of R8W

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of T30S.

Zone 620

No burning allowed.  Some burning allowed south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605 and 606

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.  South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart.

Zone 610

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

Zone 620 and 622

Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 5 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous

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

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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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