SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

ISSUED: Monday, May 18, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw

1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625

SHORT-TERM DISCUSSION

Flow aloft is NW on Tuesday causing mostly sunny and seasonal conditions. Burning opportunities are excellent with very light W-NW winds.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

Little change will be noted on Wednesday and Thursday though the flow aloft weakens. Skies remain mostly sunny which allows a slow warming trend. Mixing conditions improve through each day with very light winds, mainly W-NW in afternoon.

A very weak ridge will be over the region on Friday, sunny and warm with temperatures reaching 10^oF above normal. Burning potential is still very good along with very light SW-W winds in the afternoon.

2. DISPERSION

TUESDAY

Mixing height Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and throughout the afternoon.

Transport wind W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon and evening.

OUTLOOK:

WEDNESDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 4400 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind NW to NNE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming W to NW at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon. Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

THURSDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon. Surface wind light and variable.

FRIDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 4000 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind ESE to SSE at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon. 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 Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

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Follow standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the WSW through NNW of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 5 miles in all directions of SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if burning in any other direction. No additional restrictions necessary.

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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.