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

Mon Sep 20 14:23:48 PDT 2010

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

ISSUED: Monday, September 20, 2010       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

Upper level flow will be generally west-southwest ahead of a weak trough about 400 miles west of the southern Oregon Coast.  That trough will approach during the day, but it is weak and mainly headed toward California, so its primary effect will be a few mid and high clouds over the region.  No rain is likely.

    OUTLOOK (WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY)

The trough moves into California on Wednesday leaving a weak ridge over the area for dry weather.  By Thursday a weakening front drags across northwestern Oregon for some light rain in north Coast Range and the northern Cascades.  By Friday a deep upper low is about 600 miles west of Vancouver Island.  This helps to build a ridge over the region for dry weather and warmer temperatures but also lower mixing heights.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 1100 - 2100 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 3900 - 4900 ft.
Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.

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

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind NNW to NE at 5 - 9 mph.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising to 4300 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind NNW to NE at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.

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

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 1300 - 2300 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 NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 6 - 10 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 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height 1000 - 1500 ft.
Transport wind becomes light and variable.
Surface wind becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY
In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising to 4200 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1600 ft by late morning rising to 3000 to 4000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NNW at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 3200 to 4200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

FRIDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1200 to 2200 ft by late morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind SSE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to WNW 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 Tuesday, September 21, 2010.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601 and 612
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions north of Forest Grove/Hillsboro or Sheridan/Willamina in Zone 602.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

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

Zone 616 west of R8W
Units should be 1500 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.

Zone 620
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

Cascades

Zone 605 and 606
Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 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 and 608
Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

Zone 609, 610, 611, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

Zone 620 and 622
Units should be 500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W in Zone 622, use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

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

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