SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Monday,
November 10, 2025 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
************************* Holiday
Schedule *************************
The ODF forecast office will be closed
on Tuesday, November 11th.
This forecast includes burning
instructions for Tuesday, November 11th through Wednesday, November
12th. Please consult with the ODF forecaster this afternoon with
questions on holiday prescribed-burning.
ODF forecast
line: 503-945-7401. Thank you to our Veterans!
*********************************************************************
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN
OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623 and 639
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
An upper-level ridge rebuilds on Tuesday while flow
aloft becomes SW in the afternoon.
Conditions will be partly sunny and warmer than seasonal levels. The ridge causes poor to fair mixing in the
afternoon with light S-SW winds, except variable in the North Coast Range.
A strong trough will slowly
approach the coast on Wednesday. Rain spreads through the Coast Range, likely
reaching the Cascades late in the afternoon or evening. Snow levels late in the day will be 6500-7500
feet. Potential moisture on Wednesday
and Wednesday night for most of the Coast Range is around .50” with less farther
inland. Mixing significantly improves
except to remain poor in the North Coast Range.
Afternoon winds will be SSE-SSW.
The
trough is still approaching the coast on Thursday for continuing rain, snow
level dropping to 5000 feet late.
Another .50” or more of moisture is likely for the mountains. Mixing potential is very good with S-SW
winds.
The upper trough finally moves onshore by Friday while
showers only gradually taper off. But the
trough leaves behind continuing S-SW lower levels winds and generally very good
mixing.
2. DISPERSION
TUESDAY
Zone 601, 602,
603 and 612 (North Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft.
Transport wind NE
to ESE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind
becomes light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
Surface wind
similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind
similar to afternoon.
Surface wind
similar to afternoon.
Zone 605-611, 639
and 616-623 (North and South Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 1700 ft.
Transport wind S
to SW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
rising to 1900 - 2900 ft.
Transport wind
SSW to SW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind
similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind S
to SW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind
similar to afternoon.
Zone 615-620
(South Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 1600 ft.
Transport wind E
to SE at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
1100 - 2100 ft.
Transport wind
shifts to S to SW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind
similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
lowers below 1000 ft.
Transport wind
shifts to SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind
similar to afternoon.
OUTLOOK:
WEDNESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 1900 ft by late morning rising to 3200 to
4200 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind SE to S at 8 - 14 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 12 - 22
mph during the afternoon. Surface wind
light and variable during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 6 - 10 mph during
the afternoon.
THURSDAY
In the north
mixing height below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft during the late morning
and afternoon. In the south mixing
height above 5000 ft all day. Transport
wind SSW to SW at 13 - 25 mph. Surface
wind SSE to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.
FRIDAY
In the Coast
Range mixing height 2400 to 3400 ft during the morning rising
above 5000 ft by late morning through the afternoon. In the Cascades mixing height 1000 to 2000 ft
early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft during the morning then above 5000 ft during
the afternoon. Transport wind SSW to SW
at 15 - 27 mph. Surface wind S to SW at 10
- 18 mph.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE
WESTERN OREGON AREA
- Valid for burning done Tuesday and
Wednesday, November 11 and 12, 2025.
=================================================================
For Tuesday:
Coast Range
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones. Complete ignitions by 3 p.m.
in all zones.***
Zone 601, 612,
and 616 east of R9W
Units should be
900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S in
Zone 616 - call the forecaster.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
300 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 615, 616
west of R8W, 618, 619, and 620
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.
Cascades
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones. Complete ignitions by 3 p.m.
in all zones.***
Zone 605, 606,
607, 608, 639, 610, 617, 620, 622, and 623
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Zone 611
Units should be
900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 616
Units should be
600 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs. Avoid ignitions north of T24S. South of T29S higher tonnage is possible -
call the forecaster.
Siskiyous
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. Complete ignitions by 3 p.m.***
Units should be
900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
For Wednesday:
Coast Range
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***
Zone 601
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind
SSRAs. North of Tillamook, use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
300 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs. North of T3N in Zone 602, use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Units may be 900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, south of the
Siuslaw River in Zone 603.
Zone 612
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 615, 616
west of R8W, 618, 619, and 620
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Avoid burning directly upwind of the North Bend/Coos Bay SSRA.
Zone 616 east of
R9W
Units should be
900 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S -
call the forecaster.
Cascades
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***
Zone 605, 606,
and 616
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs. In zone 616 avoid ignitions north of
T24S. South of T29S higher tonnage is
possible - call the forecaster.
Zone 607, 608,
639, 610, 620, 622, and 623
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Zone 611
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 617
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Siskiyous
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m.***
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.
==============================================================
4. SPECIAL NOTES:
The ODF forecast smoke zones differ from
the NWS fire zones and
are available at:
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/documents/smoke-forecast-zone-map.pdf
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 they will return your
call as soon as possible.
Avoid calling between 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
The forecast is available on the Internet
at:
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/
Daily/smi.htm
Please ensure your units have been planned
and accomplished by
checking:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Burn.aspx
A map of planned and/or accomplished burns
is located at:
http://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html
?id=a7e321dc8fc444b7a33fbc67bc673a3b
The forecast/instruction telephone
recording is: (503) 945-7400.
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the
email list for this
product, please go to the link:
http://weather.smkmgt.com/mailman/listinfo/
5. STANDARD GUIDANCE MATRIX:
* Greater than 5000 ft mixing height: Limit
to 150 tons per mile
from downwind SSRAs. Example: 75 tons
allowed if burned a half
mile from a downwind SSRA.
* 3000 - 5000 ft mixing height: Limit to 50
tons per mile if burning
within 5 miles of downwind SSRAs. Limit to
100 tons per mile if
burning 5 miles or beyond downwind SSRAs.
Example #1: 200 tons allowed if burned 4
miles from a downwind SSRA.
Example #2: 500 tons allowed if burned 5
miles from a downwind SSRA.
* Less than 3000 ft mixing height: No burning
within 5 miles of
downwind SSRAs. Limit to 60 tons per mile
from downwind SSRAs.
Example: 300 tons allowed if burned 5 miles
from a downwind SSRA.
* Ensure adequate spacing between units when
burning near downwind
SSRAs.
* Use of polyethylene (PE) sheeting on
greater than 75 percent of
piles in a unit with 60 percent coverage
per pile will allow a
50 percent increase in tonnage over the
existing instruction tonnage
for that zone.
* All exceptions must be coordinated with the
duty forecaster
prior to ignition.
6. BURN MONITORING:
Burns over 2000 tons must be monitored (OAR
629-048-0230(3) -
7/1/14). Monitoring of all burns is highly
recommended for both
smoke management purposes and wildfire
potential.