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

Sun Jun 7 14:22:05 PDT 2009

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

ISSUED: Sunday, June 7, 2009       2:30 PM      Jim Little

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

A network outage at the state data center precluded me from seeing any weather data up until just before forecast time.  Thus this is a hurried forecast with low confidence.  An upper low over southern Alberta will move slowly east early in the week.  Another upper trough of low pressure will push onshore from the west into the Pacific Northwest by mid week.  Mixing heights appear favorable for good smoke dispersal conditions during the afternoons.  Winds will tend to onshore.

    OUTLOOK (TUESDAY - THURSDAY)

Computer models indicate a split flow through the outlook period, but there are model differences on key features.  Expect an onshore flow, decent mixing heights, and a slight chance of rain each day.

2.  DISPERSION

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

MORNING
Mixing height 2900 - 3900 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind W to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

Zone 605-611 (North Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3800 - 4800 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 4200 - 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

MORNING
Mixing height 2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height 3400 - 4400 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind increases to W to NW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 5 - 9 mph.

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

MORNING
Mixing height 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind light and variable.
Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

AFTERNOON
Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind increases to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

EVENING
Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft after sunset.
Transport wind NW to N at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind NW to N at 6 - 10 mph.

OUTLOOK:

TUESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft by late morning rising to 4100 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft by late morning rising to 4300 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

THURSDAY
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft by late morning rising to 3400 to 4400 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable.  Surface wind light and variable.

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
These instructions are valid for burning conducted on Monday, June 8, 2009.
=================================================================

Coast Range

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W
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.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

Zone 602 and 603
Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 10 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

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 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.

Cascades

Zone 605, 606, 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.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.

Zone 610
Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 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.  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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