SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
April 17, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
A broad
upper-level ridge will be overhead on Saturday, and temperatures return above
seasonal under sunny skies. Burning
potential is very good with SE-S winds.
EXTENDED
DISCUSSION
The ridge
progresses into Idaho on Sunday while flow aloft becomes SSW ahead of an upper
trough off the northern California coast.
Mostly cloudy skies are expected as temperatures become well above
normal. Mixing heights improve into the
afternoon with SE-S winds.
On Monday the
offshore trough increases moisture and SSW flow aloft. Mostly cloudy and warm conditions are still expected. Mixing continues very good in the afternoon
with SE-S winds.
The offshore upper
trough will begin to move inland on Tuesday to increase moisture in S flow
aloft. Chances of rain increase through
the day while snow levels are 6500-7000 feet.
Amounts will be less than .10” though it increases overnight and into
Wednesday. Mixing conditions on Tuesday will
become very good as S winds trend SW.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 3100 - 4100 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises above 5000 ft during the
afternoon then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind SE
to SSW at 5 - 9 mph.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4300 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SE to SSE at 10 - 22 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 16 - 30 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind ESE
to S at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 10 - 16 mph during
the afternoon.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SSE to S at 15 - 25 mph. Surface wind SE
to SSW at 6 - 12 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 10 - 18 mph
during the afternoon.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SSE to SSW at 14 - 28 mph during the morning becoming SSW to SW at 12 - 24 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind SE to
SSW at 10 - 16 mph during the morning becoming SSW to WSW at 9 - 15 mph during
the afternoon.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625
INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, April 18 through 20, 2026.
==================================================================
For Saturday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see section
5 below - for burning units to the SSE through SW of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly
through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles to the ESE through SW
in or near drainages leading to SSRAs.
No additional restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see section
5 below - for burning units to the SE through WSW of SSRAs. For units that will smolder significantly
through the night avoid burning within at least 15 miles to the E through WSW
in or near drainages leading to SSRAs.
No additional restrictions necessary.
For Monday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SE through SSW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 15 miles in all
directions of 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.