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

Tue Jun 1 14:14:26 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Tuesday, June 1, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

    WEDNESDAY

An upper level low remains in the Gulf of Alaska approximately 600 miles west of the Queen Charlotte Islands.  Winds aloft over the Pacific Northwest will be from the west southwest and drive a Pacific weather front through the region during the day.  This will produce significant rain for the area.  Warm air streaming northward in advance of the front will suppress mixing heights a bit for just fair smoke dispersal conditions.

    OUTLOOK (THURSDAY-SATURDAY)

The upper low will be in about the same position on Thursday but the region will be between weather systems for mostly cloudy skies but only widely scattered showers.  Cooler air aloft will push afternoon mixing heights well above 5000 feet for good smoke dispersal conditions.  A surface low will develop off the southern Oregon coast and track northeastward toward Washington Thursday night and into early Friday.  This looks to be quite deep for this time of year and strong winds are likely with winds above 50mph on the coast and 25-35mph in the interior valleys.  In addition significant rainfall is likely with this system as well.  The rain will taper off late in the day and by Saturday weak surface high pressure builds to the north for drying and warmer temperatures.  Smoke dispersal conditions will be good to excellent Thursday and Friday, but light and variable winds will limit smoke movement on Saturday.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SW at 20 - 36 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2700 - 3700 ft.
Transport wind decreases to WSW to WNW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1100 - 2100 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind WSW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 20 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind SW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1400 - 2400 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 8 - 12 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to SW at 14 - 28 mph.
Surface wind SSW to SW at 12 - 22 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind decreases to SW to WSW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind decreases to SW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.
Transport wind SW to W at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind SW to W at 6 - 10 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind S to SSW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 10 - 18 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WSW to WNW at 10 - 22 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WSW to WNW at 10 - 16 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1600 - 2600 ft.
Transport wind SW to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind SSW to W at 6 - 12 mph.

OUTLOOK:

THURSDAY
In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and through the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2300 to 3300 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSW to SW at 18 - 30 mph during the morning becoming SSW to SW at 12 - 22 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind SSW to SW at 10 - 22 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

SATURDAY
Mixing height 2500 to 3500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010.
=================================================================

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.  North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Units may be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.

Zone 615, 616 west of R8W, and 620
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.  No burning allowed south of T35S in Zone 620.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 618
Units should be 2000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 619
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 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.  From T18S through T22S in Zone 608 units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart.

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

Siskiyous
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 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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