SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

 

ISSUED: Monday, July 7, 2025       2:30 PM      Gary Votaw

 

1.  DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN OREGON AREA FORECAST ZONES 601-623 and 639

 

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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

 

TUESDAY

 

Zone 601, 602, 603 and 612 (North Coast Range):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1400 - 2400 ft.

Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

 

AFTERNOON

Mixing height 1900 - 2900 ft.

Transport wind increases to WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8 mph.

 

EVENING

Mixing height 1000 - 1800 ft.

Transport wind increases to WNW to NW at 12 - 22 mph.

Surface wind WNW to NW at 8 - 12 mph.

 

Zone 605-611 and 639 (North Cascades):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1900 - 2900 ft.

Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

 

AFTERNOON

Mixing height rising to 4000 - 5000 ft.

Transport wind increases to WSW to WNW at 8 - 14 mph.

Surface wind increases to SW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

 

EVENING

Mixing height 2700 - 3700 ft.

Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 8 - 14 mph.

Surface wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph.

 

Zone 615-620 (South Coast Range):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1700 - 2700 ft.

Transport wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

 

AFTERNOON

Mixing height 1500 - 2500 ft.

Transport wind increases to WSW to NW at 6 - 12 mph.

Surface wind increases to W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

 

EVENING

Mixing height 1100 - 2100 ft.

Transport wind W to NW at 5 - 9 mph.

Surface wind similar to afternoon.

 

Zone 616-623 (South Cascades):

 

MORNING

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 - 3500 ft.

Transport wind SW to W at 4 - 8 mph.

Surface wind light and variable and controlled by local terrain.

 

AFTERNOON

Mixing height rising above 5000 ft.

Transport wind SW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph.

Surface wind increases to WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph.

 

EVENING

Mixing height 3200 - 4200 ft.

Transport wind shifts to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph.

Surface wind WNW to NNW at 6 - 12 mph.

 

OUTLOOK:

 

WEDNESDAY

In the Coast Range mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1600 to 2600 ft by late morning rising to 2900 to 3900 ft during the afternoon.  In the Cascades mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during 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 W to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

 

THURSDAY

In the north mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  In the south mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1600 to 2600 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NNW to NNE at 5 - 9 mph.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

 

FRIDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2400 to 3400 ft by late morning rising to 3800 to 4800 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind NE to E at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming N to NE at 8 - 14 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind NNE to ENE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.

 

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL ZONES IN THE WESTERN OREGON AREA

    - Valid for burning done Tuesday through Friday, July 8 through 11, 2025.

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For Tuesday:

 

Coast Range

 

Zone 601, 612, and 616 east of R9W

Units should be 600 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 602 and 603

No burning allowed.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

 

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W

Units should be 900 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 618 and 619

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 620

Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 12 miles apart, and 12 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

 

Cascades

 

All zones except Zone 610 and 611

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart.

 

Zone 610

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 611

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

 

Siskiyous

 

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

For Wednesday:

 

Coast Range

 

Zone 601 and 612

Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Restrict units in or near corridors to 500 tons or less.

 

Zone 602 and 603

Units should be 400 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Limit burning in or near corridors.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Siuslaw River in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

 

Zone 615 and 616 west of R8W

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 616 east of R9W

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 618 and 619

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)

 

Zone 620

Units should be 300 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T35S.  Call the forecaster.

 

 

Cascades

 

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 639, 616, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  From T15S through T20S in Zone 608 units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart.

 

Zone 610 and 622

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.  East of R2W in Zone 622, use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.

 

Zone 611

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 620

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

 

Siskiyous

 

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below. Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.

 

For Thursday:

 

Coast Range

 

Zone 601, 612, 615, 618, and 619

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.

 

Zone 602, 603, and 616 east of R9W

Units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Limit tonnage north of Forest Grove/Hillsboro or Sheridan/Willamina in Zone 602.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

 

Zone 616 west of R8W

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 620

Units should be 600 tons or less, spaced 6 miles apart, and 8 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of the Rogue River.  Call the forecaster.

 

 

Cascades

 

Zone 605, 606, 607, 608, 639, 611, 616, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  Verify transport winds away from SSRA if burning within 10 miles of the SSRA in Zone 605 and 606.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606 - call the forecaster.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.

 

Zone 610

Units should be 1200 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 620 and 622

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

 

Siskiyous

 

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.

 

For Friday:

 

Coast Range

 

Zone 601, 612, 615, 616, 618, 619, and 620

Use standard guidance matrix. (See section 5 below.)  Avoid burning directly upwind of coastal SSRAs.

 

Zone 602 and 603

Units should be 600 tons or less, spaced 8 miles apart, and 10 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Limit tonnage north of Forest Grove/Hillsboro or Sheridan/Willamina in Zone 602.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T17S in Zone 603.  Call the forecaster.

 

 

Cascades

 

Zone 605, 606, 620, and 622

Units should be 750 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.  Higher tonnage is possible south of T20S in Zone 606 - call the forecaster.

 

Zone 607 and 608

Units should be 1500 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart, and 5 miles from downwind SSRAs.

 

Zone 639, 610, 611, 616, 617, and 623

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.  Ensure adequate distance from downwind SSRAs for smoke to dissipate.  South of T30S in Zone 616 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.  South of T30S in Zone 617 units should be 1000 tons or less, spaced 3 miles apart.

 

 

Siskiyous

 

Use standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below.

 

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4.  SPECIAL NOTES:

 

    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

 

    Call the smoke management duty forecaster at (503) 945-7401 to

    discuss burning. Please do not call individual's numbers to

    discuss daily burning. If the forecaster is not available,

    leave a message and they will return your call as soon as possible.

    Avoid calling between 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

 

    The forecast is available on the Internet at:

    http://www.odf.state.or.us/DIVISIONS/protection/fire_protection/

    Daily/smi.htm

 

    Please ensure your units have been planned and accomplished by

    checking: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Burn.aspx

 

    A map of planned and/or accomplished burns is located at:

    http://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html

    ?id=a7e321dc8fc444b7a33fbc67bc673a3b

 

    The forecast/instruction telephone recording is: (503) 945-7400.

 

    To subscribe to or unsubscribe from the email list for this

    product, please go to the link:

    http://weather.smkmgt.com/mailman/listinfo/

 

 

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.

    Example: 300 tons allowed if burned 5 miles from a downwind SSRA.

 

  * 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.