SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
December 5, 2025
3:10 PM Pete Parsons
CORRECTED SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
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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
An upper-level ridge flattens on Saturday with a weak cold
front sagging southward and spreading areas of light rain at times across all
zones. Snow levels only drop to about 5000
feet north and 6000 feet south. Most
rainfall amounts will be less than .25”.
Slight cooling aloft and SW winds will provide better ventilation.
Very little change in the weather pattern is projected through
Sunday, with a flat upper-level ridge directing a weak weather system across mainly
the northern half of the state. Expect
light rain at times north and a chance of rain south. Additional rainfall will be generally less than
.25” north and .10” south with the greatest totals in the north coast range. Snow levels hold at 5-6000 feet north and 6-7000
feet south with S-SW winds providing fair ventilation.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
A stronger weather system will bring increasing rain and S-SW
winds Monday and Tuesday, mainly north. Rainfall
total may exceed 2” north and taper off to less than .10” near the California
border. Snow levels should rise slightly
but expect at least fair daytime mixing.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Zone 601, 602,
603 and 612 (North Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height
2500 - 3500 ft.
Transport wind
SSW to WSW at 12 - 24 mph.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind similar to morning.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 9 - 15 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind
decreases to SSW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 5 - 9 mph.
Zone 605-611 and
639 (North Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
2000 - 3000 ft.
Transport wind SW
to WSW at 15 - 25 mph.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 8 - 14 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
rising to 3300 - 4300 ft.
Transport wind
WSW at 18 - 32 mph.
Surface wind SW
to W at 10 - 18 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind
decreases to SW to W at 10 - 20 mph.
Surface wind SW
to W at 6 - 12 mph.
Zone 615-620
(South Coast Range):
MORNING
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 2000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind
SSW to SW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind S to
SW at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind
SSW to WSW at 8 - 12 mph.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind
SSE to SW at 4 - 8 mph.
Surface wind SSE
to SW at 4 - 8 mph.
Zone 616-623
(South Cascades):
MORNING
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 - 2000 ft by late morning.
Transport wind
SSW to WSW at 6 - 10 mph.
Surface wind SSW
to WSW at 4 - 8 mph.
AFTERNOON
Mixing height
1700 - 2700 ft.
Transport wind SW
to WNW at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind SW
to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.
EVENING
Mixing height
1000 - 1800 ft.
Transport wind similar to afternoon.
Surface wind similar to afternoon.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 to 2400 ft by late morning rising to 2400 to
3400 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind S to SW at 9 - 15 mph. Surface wind
SSE to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.
MONDAY
Mixing height
1500 to 2500 ft during the morning rising to 2600 to 3600 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind SSW to SW at
12 - 22 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 15 - 29 mph during the
afternoon. Surface wind S to SSW at 8 -
14 mph.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
1500 to 2500 ft during the morning rising to 3000 to 4000 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind SSW to SW at
16 - 26 mph. Surface wind S to SW at 9 -
15 mph.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, December 6 through 8, 2025.
=================================================================
For Saturday:
Coast Range
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 615, 616, 618, 619 and 620.***
Zone 601 and 612
Units should be
1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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 8 miles apart, south of the
Siuslaw River in Zone 603.
Zone 615 and 616
west of R8W
Units should be
1200 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Zone 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 -
call the forecaster.
Zone 618, 619,
and 620
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to
dissipate. South of T35S in Zone 620
units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from
downwind SSRAs.
Cascades
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 616, 617, 620, 622 and 623.***
All zones except
zone 611
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 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.
Siskiyous
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m.***
Units should be
900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
For Sunday:
Coast Range
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 615, 616, 618, 619 and 620.***
Zone 601 and 612
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
600 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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 8 miles apart, south of the
Siuslaw River in Zone 603.
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 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S -
call the forecaster.
Cascades
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 616, 617, 620, 622 and 623.***
All zones except
zone 611
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to
dissipate. Avoid ignitions north of T24S
in Zone 616.
Zone 611
Units should be
900 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 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.
For Monday:
Coast Range
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 615, 616, 618, 619 and 620.***
Zone 601 and 612
Units should be
1500 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs. North of Tillamook in Zone 601, use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Zone 602 and 603
Units should be
600 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 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 8 miles apart, south of the
Siuslaw River in Zone 603.
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 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs. Higher tonnage is possible south of T29S -
call the forecaster.
Cascades
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in Zone 616, 617, 620, 622 and 623.***
All zones except
zone 611
Use standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below.
Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to
dissipate. Avoid ignitions north of T24S
in Zone 616.
Zone 611
Units should be
900 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 12 miles apart, and 12 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.