SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Thursday,
June 25, 2026
2:30 PM Sherri Pugh
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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
Temperatures will
drop below average on Friday with an upper-level trough over the region. Showers will increase with amounts generally reaching
0.10”. Surface winds will be from W. Transport winds will come from WSW. Mixing heights will be high.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
Showers continue for
Saturday with an upper-level low over Oregon.
Rainfall amounts could reach 0.20”.
Winds will be from NW and temperatures will
drop well below seasonable. Mixing
heights will be excellent.
South-central Oregon
will be mostly dry for Sunday.
Upper-level troughing will shift to the east but not move far. Surface winds will be from WNW and variable
at times. Transport winds will come from
NW. Mixing heights will be good despite well below average surface temperatures.
Monday turns dry though
upper-level troughing continues for the region.
Light winds will be from WSW-NW.
Temperatures warm some but remain below seasonable. Mixing heights will be good.
2. DISPERSION
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1500 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning. Mixing height lowers to 2000 - 3000 ft during
the evening.
Transport wind SW
to W at 9 - 15 mph during the morning.
Transport wind increases to SW to WSW at 10 - 22 mph during the
afternoon and evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to
WSW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon and evening.
OUTLOOK:
SATURDAY
Mixing height
3500 - 4500 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind WNW to NW at
10 - 18 mph. Surface wind W to NW at 4 -
8 mph.
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3300 - 4300 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph. Surface wind W
to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 - 3500 ft by late morning rising to 3500 -
4500 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind SW to W at 6 - 10 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 Friday, June 26,
2026.
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Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SW through WNW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 5 miles to the SW
through NW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. 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.