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

[ODF Smoke Management Instructions]

SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY



ISSUED: Thursday, November 4, 2010       2:30 PM      Pete Parsons



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



FRIDAY



The massive upper-level ridge of high pressure that has been bringing the region record-breaking warmth and stagnant ventilation conditions will weaken and shift slightly eastward.  The ridge axis is forecast to stretch from Utah through eastern Montana with a slowly strengthening southwesterly flow aloft over Oregon.



The first in a series of progressively stronger weather systems will fall apart along the coastline, with little to no rain making it onshore.  Transport winds will remain light.  Surface temperatures will, once again, be unseasonably warm, but very warm air aloft will keep mixing heights low and make for marginal to poor smoke dispersal conditions.


OUTLOOK (SATURDAY-MONDAY)


The second in a series of weather systems will approach the coastline on Saturday, but it appears as if any significant rainfall will hold off until evening.  Surface temperatures will stay well above normal.  However, cooling aloft will raise afternoon mixing heights, with increasing south to southwesterly transport winds improving ventilation conditions.



A cold front will likely spread rain across western Oregon by Saturday night, continuing through Sunday morning.  Rainfall amounts should exceed one-quarter of an inch, with close to an inch possible at higher elevations.  Surface temperatures will cool to near normal.  Cooler air aloft will drop the snow level to around 3500 feet north and 4500 feet south, by evening, with good afternoon smoke dispersal conditions.  Showers will continue through Sunday night.



A flat and transitory upper-level ridge will being some drying on Monday and may suppress afternoon mixing heights slightly.  Surface temperatures will cool to slightly below normal with a continued threat of showers.  Transport winds will remain onshore with fair to good smoke dispersal conditions.



2.  DISPERSION



Zone 601-612 (North Coast Range and Cascades):



MORNING

Mixing height below 500 ft early rising to 1000 - 1500 ft by late morning.

Transport wind light and variable but favors NW and controlled by local terrain.

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



AFTERNOON

Mixing height 1300 - 2300 ft.

Transport wind similar to morning.

Surface wind similar to morning.



EVENING

Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.

Transport wind similar to afternoon.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.



Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):



MORNING

Mixing height below 500 ft early rising to 1000 - 1500 ft by late morning.

Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.



AFTERNOON

Mixing height 1100 - 2100 ft.

Transport wind similar to morning.

Surface wind similar to morning.



EVENING

Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.

Transport wind similar to afternoon.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.



Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):



MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.

Transport wind SE to SSW at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind light and variable but favors SE to SW and controlled by local terrain.



AFTERNOON

Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.

Transport wind similar to morning.

Surface wind similar to morning.



EVENING

Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.

Transport wind becomes light and variable but favors  and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.



OUTLOOK:



SATURDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising to 3100 to 4100 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.



SUNDAY

Mixing height 2200 to 3200 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.



MONDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 to 2400 ft by late morning rising to 3000 to 4000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.



3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA

These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Friday, November 5, 2010.

=================================================================



Coast Range



Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.



Zone 602 and 603

No burning allowed.



Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W

Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in Zone 616.  Call the forecaster.



Zone 618 and 619

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.



Zone 620

Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.





Cascades



Zone 605 and 606

No burning allowed.



Zone 607, 608, 609, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.



Zone 610, 611, 620, and 622

Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.



Zone 616

Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions north of T24S.  South of T29S higher tonnage is possible.  Call the forecaster.





Siskiyous

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 15 miles apart, and 15 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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