SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND
FORECAST FOR NORTHEAST FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
An upper-level
trough moves eastward into Idaho Thursday causing N flow aloft. There is a chance of lingering very light snow,
but clouds decrease through the day, temperatures remaining 15oF
below seasonal levels. Colder air aloft
helps mixing conditions to be excellent in NW winds.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
Decreasing NW flow aloft on Friday allows for sunny and warmer
conditions, but still cooler than normal.
Burning potential is very good with W winds becoming weak by afternoon.
A ridge keeps Saturday mostly sunny while the warming trend
continues. Afternoon mixing will be very
good with S-SW transport winds.
By Sunday flow aloft becomes SW well ahead of an offshore system. There is a slight chance of rain or high
mountain snow under partly sunny skies, temperatures
above normal. Mixing heights improves
through the day with very light SE-S winds.
2. DISPERSION
THURSDAY
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Mixing height
above 5000 ft throughout the day.
Transport wind NW
to NNW at 15 - 29 mph during the morning and afternoon. Transport wind decreases to WNW to NNW at 10
- 18 mph during the evening.
Surface wind WNW
to NNW at 9 - 15 mph during the morning and afternoon. Surface wind decreases to W to NW at 6 - 10
mph during the evening.
Zone 637, 643,
645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:
Mixing height
above 5000 ft throughout the day.
Transport wind
WNW to NW at 14 - 28 mph during the morning and afternoon. Transport wind decreases to WNW to NW at 10 -
16 mph during the evening.
Surface wind WNW
to NW at 8 - 14 mph during the morning and afternoon. Surface wind decreases to W to NW at 4 - 8
mph during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
FRIDAY
In the west
mixing height 2700 to 3700 ft during the morning rising above 5000 ft during
the afternoon. In the east mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and through the
afternoon. In the west transport wind
WSW to WNW at 10 - 16 mph during the morning becoming SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph
during the afternoon. In the east
transport wind WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WNW to NNW
at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable.
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 to 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
S to SW at 10 - 20 mph. Surface wind SE
to S at 4 - 8 mph.
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 to 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SE to S at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind SE to
S at 4 - 8 mph.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON ZONES 637-646
- Valid for burning done Thursday, April
16, 2026.
==================================================================
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the WNW through
NNW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles
to the W through NNW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
Zone 637, 643,
645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the WNW through
NNW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles
to the SW through NNW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
=========================================================
4. SPECIAL NOTE:
The ODF forecast
smoke zones differ from the NWS fire zones and
are available at:
https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/documents/smoke-forecast-zone-map.pdf
The smoke management forecaster is
available at (503)-
945-7401. Please call this number and not
individual's
numbers to discuss daily burning. For large burns (over
2000 tons) or burns extending over a
considerable period,
please request a
special forecast. Avoid calling
between 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/
Daily/neo.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.