SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
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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 SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
Weak SW aloft brings mostly sunny and
very warm conditions Thursday, 10-15oF above average. Mixing is good in the afternoon with SW
winds.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
An offshore upper-level trough approaches
from the west on Friday. It will push
enough moisture across the area for some showers and a few thunderstorms in the
late afternoon and evening. Moisture will
be .10” or less except possibly more in a thunderstorm. Mixing will be good with mainly S winds.
The trough moves
inland over the weekend, and flow aloft turns lightly NW. It brings sunny skies yet somewhat cooler
conditions. Mixing will be good with NW
winds on Saturday but light and variable by Sunday.
2. DISPERSION
THURSDAY
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 2800 - 3800 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises to above 5000 ft during
the afternoon then lowers to 2600 - 3600 ft during the evening.
Transport wind S
to SW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning.
Transport increases to SW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon then
shifts to NNW to NE and decreases to 5 - 9 mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to SW to W at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon then shifts to N to NE at 4 - 8 mph during the
evening.
OUTLOOK:
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4200 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
S to SW at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 10 - 16 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind light
and variable during the morning becoming S to SW at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind light
and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable. 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 Thursday, June 18,
2026.
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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 15 miles in all
directions of SSRAs. Watch for shifting
transport winds. 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.