SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

ISSUED: Wednesday, November 4, 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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1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625

SHORT-TERM DISCUSSION

A weakening upper trough passes by late tonight, but Thursday becomes sunny, dry and otherwise seasonal. Temperatures will be seasonal. Mixing potential is moderate in the afternoon with very light winds, favoring SW.

A ridge builds over the area Friday and Saturday for partly to mostly sunny skies and a warming trend, reaching 10-15^oF above normal by Saturday. Mixing will be poor to fair on both afternoons with light and variable winds, becoming very lightly SE by Saturday afternoon.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

The ridge weakens and moves east on Sunday while a trough passes north of the area. Mixing improves a little in the afternoon with very light SW-W winds.

2. DISPERSION

THURSDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft rising to 1000 - 2000 ft during the morning. Afternoon mixing height rises to 1900 - 2900 ft then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.

Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain. Transport wind increases to SW to WNW at 6 - 12 mph during the evening.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain through the day. Surface wind increases to SSW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the evening.

OUTLOOK:

FRIDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1600 - 2600 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind light and variable. Surface wind light and variable.

SATURDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1000 - 2000 ft during the afternoon. Transport wind ESE to S at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.

SUNDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 - 3500 ft by late morning and through the afternoon. Transport wind SW to W 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 Thursday and Friday, November 5 and 6, 2026.

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For Thursday:

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.

For Friday:

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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:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/

909972015b8c4bbaa4736d9fdeb558

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.