SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED:
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
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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 NORTHEAST FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
On Thursday very weak WNW flow aloft is over the area warming the area up
to 10oF above average. An
offshore trough will increase the higher-level moisture to cause partly sunny
skies. Good mixing is expected with light
and variable winds but favoring NW.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
Very weak W flow aloft is over the
area Friday as the trough passes overhead.
Partly sunny skies bring the warmest day of the week, 10-15oF
above normal. Mixing is again good with
W winds.
Flow aloft turns
lightly NW again for the weekend bringing sunny skies yet somewhat cooler
conditions. Mixing on Saturday and Sunday
will be good with NW-N winds.
2. DISPERSION
THURSDAY
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 2700 - 3700 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises to above 5000 ft during
the afternoon then lowers to 2600 - 3600 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 -
8 mph during the afternoon then shifts to NNE to ENE at 4 - 8 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 3600 - 4600 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
WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph throughout the morning and afternoon. Transport wind shifts to
NNW to NE at 4 - 8 mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain. Surface wind increases to NNW to NE at 4 - 8
mph during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising above 5000 ft by late morning and through the
afternoon. Transport wind WSW to WNW at
4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph during the
afternoon. Surface wind light and
variable during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3800 to 4800 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WNW to NNW at 10 - 16 mph. Surface wind
W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4500 to 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 8 - 14 mph during the
afternoon. Surface wind W to NW at 5 - 9
mph.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON ZONES 637-646
- Valid for burning done Thursday, June 18,
2026.
==================================================================
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 15 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 WNW through NE
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the
WNW through NE 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.
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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.