SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
August 29, 2025
2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR NORTHEAST
FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646
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***
Constructed For Guidance (Clearance by Phone Only) ***
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********************** Off-Season
Instructions **********************
Written
forecasts/instructions have ended for the summer.
Verbal smoke clearance
must be obtained for all prescribed burning by calling the ODF forecast office
at 503-945-7401.
Office hours are Monday –
Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. (closed weekends/holidays).
Written forecasts will
resume in October.
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2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 - 2400 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises to above 5000 ft during
the afternoon then lowers to 3600 - 4600 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain. Transport wind increases to NNW to NNE at 8 -
12 mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain.
Zone 637, 643,
645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft during
the morning. Mixing height rises to
above 5000 ft during the afternoon then lowers to 3500 - 4500 ft during the
evening.
Transport wind SE
to S at 5 - 9 mph during the morning.
Transport wind shifts to S to SW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon then
shifts to SE to S and increases to 8 - 14 mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to SSE to SW at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon then becomes light and variable during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
In the west
mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1300 to 2300 ft by late morning
rising above 5000 ft during the afternoon.
In the east mixing height 2000 to 3000 ft during the morning rising
above 5000 ft during the afternoon. In
the west transport wind ESE to S at 6 - 12 mph.
In the east transport wind SE to S at 10 - 22 mph. Surface wind SE to S at 4 - 8 mph.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SE to S at 6 - 12 mph. Surface wind ESE
to S at 4 - 8 mph.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SE to SSW at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind ESE
to SSE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming light and variable during the
afternoon.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON
ZONES 637-646
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Tuesday, August 30 through September 2, 2025.
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For Saturday:
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
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 10 miles in all
directions of 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 ESE through SW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the
ESE through SW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. Watch for shifting transport winds. No
additional restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Follow standard guidance
matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the NE through S of
SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the
NE through S in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Watch for shifting transport winds. 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 10 miles to the
SE through WSW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Tuesday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the ESE through
SSW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles
to the ESE through SSW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. No additional restrictions necessary.
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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.