SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Monday,
May 11, 2026
2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND
FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
An upper-level
ridge will be centered just east of Oregon Tuesday with
SW flow over the state. Sunny skies push temperatures 15-20oF
above seasonal but very dry. Mixing conditions in the afternoon will
be excellent with S-SSW winds.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
A cold front arrives Wednesday morning followed by a strong upper
trough. There is a chance of showers during
the day under partly cloudy skies but potential
rainfall is less than .10”. Burning
opportunities look excellent with SW winds becoming W-WNW in afternoon.
Thursday will be cooler though slightly warmer than seasonal under
sunny skies. Mixing conditions improve
through the day with a very light NW transport wind.
Sunny skies continue Friday under W flow aloft.
Mixing again looks excellent with W-WNW winds.
2. DISPERSION
TUESDAY
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and through the afternoon. Mixing height lowers to 2500 - 3500 ft during
the evening.
Transport wind S
to SSW at 18 - 30 mph during the morning.
Transport wind increases to S to SSW at 21 - 37 mph during the afternoon
then decreases to SSW to SW at 15 - 29 mph during the
evening.
Surface wind SSE
to SSW at 9 - 15 mph.
OUTLOOK:
WEDNESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4100 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SW to WSW at 13 - 25 mph during the morning becoming W to WNW at 16 - 30 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind SW to
W at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph during the
afternoon.
THURSDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2100 - 3100 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable during the morning becoming WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph during
the afternoon. Surface wind light and
variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 6 - 10 mph during the
afternoon.
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph during the morning becoming W to WNW at 16 - 30 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind WSW
to WNW at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 15 - 25 mph
during the afternoon.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625 INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Tuesday, May 12,
2026.
==================================================================
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the S through SW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the S
through SW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. 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.