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

Wed Jun 30 15:28:04 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Wednesday, June 30, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

Corrected instructions for zones 601, 602, 603, and 612.

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

    THURSDAY

The persistent broad upper level trough that has been over the eastern Pacific and the Pacific Northwest will be reinforced by an upper short wave moving from the WNW across the Pacific Ocean.  This supports a weak front that will move into NW Oregon during the day on Thursday.  Timing of the front is problematical but it looks like we will have southerly or southwesterly winds ahead of the front.  As it approaches winds will go more westerly then northwesterly with frontal passage.  Temperatures will be cool with coastal regions seeing maximums 5 to 7 degrees below average and interior areas maxing out 6 to 12 degrees below average.  Smoke dispersion conditions will be fair with maximum mixing heights between about 3000 and 4000 feet.

    OUTLOOK (FRIDAY-SUNDAY)

Yet another upper short wave drops in to again reinforce the upper trough over the region early Friday. As this short wave moves to the east a cool northwesterly flow pattern aloft will set up.  Temperatures will remain cool: 10-15 degrees below average for the time of year in the western valleys of Oregon.  Expect some scattered showers in the north and fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.  By Saturday some minor ridging is evident in the eastern Pacific and this ridge builds to more significant proportions by Sunday.  This may eventually develop into a summertime ridge that finally brings significant warmth to the Pacific Northwest next week.  In the meantime expect morning clouds with partial afternoon clearing in the north, afternoon sunshine in the south.  The chance for some scattered showers continues in the north at least into Saturday.  Smoke dispersal conditions Saturday and Sunday will be fair to good.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind S to SW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WSW to WNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WSW to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

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

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2100 - 3100 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind increases to W to NW at 8 - 14 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NW at 9 - 15 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1400 - 2400 ft.
Transport wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind decreases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height below 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind W at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind W at 2 - 6 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height remains below 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind NW at 9 - 14 mph.
Surface wind NW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height remains below 1400 - 1500 ft.
Transport wind NW at 6 - 9 mph.
Surface wind NW at 6 - 9 mph.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning rising to 3600 to 4600 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NW to NNW at 8 - 12 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 2000 to 3000 ft during the 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.

SUNDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 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 1, 2010.
=================================================================

Coast Range

***Complete ignitions by 12:00pm. in Zone 601, 612 and 615.***

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 corridors to 500 tons or less.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Restrict units in or near corridors to corridors to 500 tons or less.

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 616 east of R9W
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

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.

Zone 620
No burning allowed.  Some burning allowed south of T35S.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 611, 616, 617, 622, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T12S through T17S in Zone 608 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart.

Zone 610 and 620
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Siskiyous
Units should be 1500 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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