SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
May 29, 2026 2:30 PM Pete Parsons
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The Smoke
Management Department is planning to “upgrade” this product so that it more
effectively meets your needs. To assist
us with this project, we are requesting feedback from you!
Below are a few
questions to help you consider what changes would be most beneficial for
you. All ideas are welcome!
Is the “Short-Term
Discussion” useful? What would enhance
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Discussion” useful? What would enhance
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“Dispersion” forecast better meet your needs?
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Instructions” clear and concise? How
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Please Email your
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Thank you!
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1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN
OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623 and 639
SHORT-TERM DISCUSSION
A potent upper-level trough is progressing east of the state
this afternoon. Drier and more stable WSW
winds aloft will put an end to the showers overnight, from west to east, with cool
onshore flow at the surface.
A drier and more stable westerly flow aloft brings a weak
disturbance onshore Saturday, which will maintain partly cloudy skies and slightly
below-average temperatures. Mixing will
be excellent with NW winds.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
A dry NW flow aloft is expected Sunday and Monday, with a weak
ridge centered just offshore and an upper-level trough anchored over the northern
Rockies. Skies should be mostly sunny
with winds turning more northerly. Temperatures
progressively warm to nearly 10°F above average by Monday. Warming aloft may begin to suppress daytime
mixing over the coastal zones by Monday.
Tuesday, the weak upper-level ridge moves directly over Oregon. A dry westerly flow aloft maintains mostly
sunny skies with daytime temperatures remaining about 10°F above average. Daytime mixing may be suppressed over the coastal
zones. Expect increasing NW winds later
in the day. A weak weather system brings increasing onshore flow, cooler temperatures,
and a chance of showers on Wednesday.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Zone 601, 602,
603, 612 and 615-620 (North and South Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height
below 3000 ft early rising to 3500 - 4500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind NW
to N at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW
to N at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
similar to morning.
Surface wind
similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind NW
to NNW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind NW
to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.
Zone 605-611 and
639 (North Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
below 3000 ft early rising to 3500 - 4500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind
WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind WNW
to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind NW
to NNW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind NW
to N at 6 - 10 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind NW
to N at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind
similar to afternoon.
Zone 616-623
(South Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
below 3000 ft early rising to 3500 - 4500 ft by late morning.
Transport wind NW
to NNE at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind NW
to NNE at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
rising above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
similar to morning.
Surface wind
similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind
similar to afternoon.
Surface wind
similar to afternoon.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
2200 to 3200 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind NNW to NNE at
8 - 12 mph. Surface wind NNW to NE at 5
- 9 mph.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 3900 to
4900 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph. Surface
wind N to ENE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NNW to NNE at 6 - 10 mph
during the afternoon.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising to 3600 to
4600 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during
the afternoon. 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
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, May 30 through June 1, 2026.
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For Saturday:
Coast Range
Zone 601 and 612
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs. Restrict units in or near corridors to 750
tons or less.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs. Limit burning in or near corridors. Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in
Zone 603. Call the forecaster.
Zone 615, 616
west of R8W, 618, and 619
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
1200 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 620
Units should be
600 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue
River. Call the forecaster.
Cascades
Zone 605, 606,
607, 608, 639, 611, 616, 617, and 623
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to
dissipate. South of T30S in Zone 616
units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart. South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.
Zone 610
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 620 and 622
Units should be
750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Siskiyous
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
For Sunday:
Coast Range
Zone 601, 612,
615, 616, 618, and 619
Use standard
guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)
Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.
Zone 602, 603,
and 620
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs. Limit tonnage north of Forest Grove/Hillsboro
or Sheridan/Willamina in Zone 602. Higher
tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.
Call the forecaster. Higher
tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River in Zone 620. Call the forecaster.
Cascades
Zone 605, 606,
607, 608, 639, 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. South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.
South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3
miles apart.
Zone 610
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 620 and 622
Units should be
750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Siskiyous
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
For Monday:
Coast Range
Zone 601, 612,
615, 618, and 619
Use standard
guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)
Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs. Limit tonnage 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 616 west of
R8W
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 616 east of
R9W
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. Restrict units to 500 tons or less south of
T30S.
Zone 620
Units should be
300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue
River. Call the forecaster.
Cascades
Zone 605, 606,
607, 608, 639, 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. Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in
Zone 606 - call the forecaster. South of
T30S in Zone 616 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart. South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.
Zone 610
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 620 and 622
Units should be
750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Siskiyous
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
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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.