SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

 

ISSUED: Wednesday, June 17, 2026       2:30 PM      Sherri Pugh

 

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                      We Need Your Feedback!

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 it?

Is the “Long-term Discussion” useful?  What would enhance it?

How could the “Dispersion” forecast better meet your needs?

Is the “Outlook” useful?  What would enhance it?

Are the “Burning Instructions” clear and concise?  How could they be improved for your use?

How do you access the forecast product (i.e., Email; web page; telephone recording)?

We are considering discontinuing or upgrading the phone recording of the forecast product.  Is that something you currently use?  Would you use it if you could get your specific forecast from it faster?

Please Email your feedback to: Peter.GJ.Parsons@odf.oregon.gov

Thank you!

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1.  DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623 and 639

 

SHORT-TERM DISCUSSION

 

Thursday will have light S flow aloft and a brief return of upper-level ridging.  Temperatures will warm to well above average though far from record highs.  Winds will be from NNW-NNE on the coast and more variable inland.  Mixing heights will lower with warmer air aloft.

 

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

 

Friday will be dry other than a few showers for the southern Cascades.  A weak upper-level trough will be offshore with light SW winds aloft.  Temperatures will be well above seasonable for northern zones and near or just above average in southern zones.  Winds will be from W-NW.  Mixing heights will be fair to good.

 

The weakening upper-level trough moves inland on Saturday.  Winds will be from W-NW with seasonable temperatures.  Mixing heights will improve some though staying fair to good.

 

Upper-level ridging returns for Sunday with light NW flow aloft.  Winds will come from NW-NNE, lighter for Cascades zones.  Temperatures will again be above seasonable.  Mixing heights will be mostly good.

 

2.  DISPERSION

 

THURSDAY

 

Zone 601, 602, 603, 612 and 615-620 (North and South Coast Range):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 300 ft early rising to 1500 - 2500 ft by late morning.

Transport wind N to NE at 8 - 12 mph.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

 

AFTERNOON

Mixing height 2300 - 3300 ft.

Transport wind NNW to NNE at 8 - 12 mph.

Surface wind similar to morning.

 

EVENING

Mixing height lowers below 1000 ft.

Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.

 

Zone 605-611, 639 and 616-623 (North and South Cascades):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 300 ft early rising to 1700 - 2700 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 2500 - 3500 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.

 

OUTLOOK:

 

FRIDAY

In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 to 2400 ft by late morning rising to 2000 to 3000 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2300 to 3300 ft by late morning rising to 3200 to 4200 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

 

SATURDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 2700 to 3700 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind W to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

 

SUNDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 2800 to 3800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind N to NE at 4 - 8 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NNW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

 

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

    - Valid for burning done Thursday, June 18, 2026.

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Coast Range

 

***Avoid ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***

 

Zone 601 and 612

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of Waldport in Zone 612.  Call the forecaster.

 

Zone 602 and 603

Units should be 600 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 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 615, 616, 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.***

 

Zone 605 and 606

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 607, 608, 639, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

 

Zone 610 and 611

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 616

Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Avoid ignitions north of T24S.

 

Zone 620 and 622

Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

 

Siskiyous

 

***Avoid ignitions before 10 a.m.***

 

Units should be 900 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

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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.