SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
November 13, 2026
2:30 PM Gary Votaw
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Burn Forecast/Instruction Process Update:
Written forecasts will
continue to be issued on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons with updates
as needed. Forecasts will include burning instructions for multiple days
(except for updates).
With the pace and scale of
burning increasing statewide, a more coordinated effort is needed to maximize
burning opportunities while simultaneously minimizing smoke impacts to the
public.
Please call your local ODF
field office with questions regarding burning clearance for specific
burns. If you are not sure who to contact, the forecast line
(503-945-7401) remains available. However, we are transitioning that line
for use primarily by ODF districts.
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* Special Protection Zone (SPZ) provisions apply from
November 15 through February 15.
Prescribed burning is not allowed in an SPZ from December 1 through
February 15 on days when the daily woodstove “Ordinance” is either “Red,”
“Exempt Wood Burning Device,” or “No Burning Period.” Burning is allowed inside of SPZs all other
days, but please use extra precautions and limit forestland burning to units
that will not worsen air quality within nearby SSRAs. *
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1. DISCUSSION AND
FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623 and 639
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
A ridge with still moist W
flow aloft will be over the area Saturday.
Occasional rain continues while the snow level rises to around 6000
feet. Precipitation in mountains will be
mostly .25” to .50” but reaching 1.00” for some Coast Range locations. Mixing looks excellent with S-SW winds.
Another large and wet but
colder trough is on approach with more precipitation. The cold front moves through on Sunday with
mixed conditions improving after it passes.
Moisture in mountains will typically be .50” to 1.00” as the snow drops
to 4500-5500 feet. Winds in the
afternoon will be SW-W.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
With the weakening trough
moving onshore Monday showers provide .10” more but as high as .25” in the
Coast Range, snow above 4000-4500 feet.
Mixing improves nicely through the day as very weak winds favor W.
A ridge
rules most of Tuesday but another trough approaches to make rain and snow
likely again late in the day. Mixing
potential is moderate or good with SE-S winds.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Zone 601, 602,
603 and 612 (North Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
SSW to SW at 18 - 30 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SSW at 6 - 12 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
SSW at 21 - 37 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SSW at 9 - 15 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
3000 - 4000 ft.
Transport wind S
at 22 - 40 mph.
Surface wind S to
SW at 10 - 18 mph.
Zone 605-611 and
639 (North Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
SSW to WSW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SW at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S
to SW at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind similar to morning.
EVENING
Mixing height
1000 - 1900 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind S to
SW at 5 - 9 mph.
Zone 615-620
(South Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind
SSW at 20 - 36 mph.
Surface wind S to
SW at 10 - 16 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S
at 22 - 38 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
3500 - 4500 ft.
Transport wind
SSW at 24 - 42 mph.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.
Zone 616-623
(South Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S
to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
above 5000 ft.
Transport wind S
to SSW at 12 - 22 mph.
Surface wind SE
to SSW at 6 - 10 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
1400 - 2400 ft.
Transport wind
decreases to SSW to WSW at 6 - 12 mph.
Surface wind
shifts to SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
In the Coast
Range mixing height above 5000 ft throughout the day. In the Cascades mixing height 2200 to 3200 ft
during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind SW to W at 9 - 15 mph. Surface wind SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph.
MONDAY
In the north
mixing height below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and
through the afternoon. In the south
mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3200 to 4200 ft by late morning
rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.
Transport wind SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind light and variable.
TUESDAY
In the north
mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning
rising to 3200 to 4200 ft during the afternoon.
In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft
by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind SSE to SSW at 8 - 14 mph
during the morning becoming SSE to S at 10 - 22 mph during the afternoon. Surface wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, November 14 through 16, 2026.
=================================================================
For Saturday:
Coast Range
All Zones
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Cascades
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. Verify transport winds away
from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.
Zone 611 and 616
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs. In zone 616 avoid ignitions north of
T24S. South of T29S higher tonnage is
possible - call the forecaster.
Siskiyous
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
For Sunday:
Coast Range
All Zones
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Cascades
Zone 605, 606,
607, 608, 639, 610, 617, and 623
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Zone 611 and 616
Units should be
1500 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
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
For Monday:
Coast Range
All Zones
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Cascades
Zone 605 and 606
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 607, 608,
639, 610, 611, 617, and 623
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.
Zone 616
Units should be
1500 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
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 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:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/
909972015b8c4bbaa4736d9fdeb55800
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.