SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
November 7, 2025 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
A strong upper-level ridge will be over the area on both Saturday and
Sunday. Sunny skies will warm the area above seasonal levels on Saturday
then even warmer by Sunday, reaching 10-15oF above average. Even
warmer air aloft significantly suppresses mixing into the afternoons. Transport winds on both days will be ESE-SE
and light.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
The ridge weakens somewhat by Monday as a trough tries to pass
through it, and flow aloft becomes west.
Skies will be partly sunny while remaining unseasonably warm. Mixing will be poor with very light S-SW
winds.
The ridge rebounds on Tuesday for sunny and very warm conditions
continuing. But it will maintain poor
mixing with very light S-SW wind.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft during the morning.
Afternoon mixing height rises to 1500 - 2500 ft then lowers below 1000
ft during the evening.
Transport wind light
and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning then becomes ESE
to SE at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon and evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
1000 - 1600 ft during the morning rising to 1600 - 2600 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind ESE to SSE at
6 - 10 mph. Surface wind light and
variable during the morning becoming ESE to SSE at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1000 - 1700 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind S to SW at 4 -
8 mph. Surface wind light and variable.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1000 - 1700 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind S to SW at 4 -
8 mph. Surface wind light and variable.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625
INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, November 8 through 10, 2025.
==================================================================
For Saturday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see
section 5 below - for burning units to the E through S of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly
through the night avoid burning within at least 30 miles to the E through S in
or near drainages leading to SSRAs.
Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if burning in any other
direction. Complete ignitions by 3 p.m. No additional
restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see
section 5 below - for burning units to the E through S of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly
through the night avoid burning within at least 30 miles to the E through S in
or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Complete ignitions by 3 p.m. No additional
restrictions necessary.
For Monday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see
section 5 below - for burning units in all directions of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly
through the night avoid burning within at least 30 miles in all directions of
SSRAs. Complete
ignitions by 3 p.m. No additional
restrictions necessary.
==============================================================
4. SPECIAL NOTE:
The smoke management forecaster is
available at (503)
945-7401.
The smoke management forecaster is available
to discuss specific burns. The duty forecaster phone
number is (503) 945-7401. Please call this
number and
not individual's numbers to discuss daily
burning. Please
avoid calling between 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/
Daily/lmt.htm
To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the
email list for this
product, please go to the link:
http://weather.smkmgt.com/mailman/listinfo/
Please ensure your units have been planned
and accomplished by
checking:
http://oregon.gov/ODF/FIRE/SMP/dailysmoke.shtml
A map of planned and/or accomplished burns
is located at:
http://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html
?id=a7e321dc8fc444b7a33fbc67bc673a3b
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.
* 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.