SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
June 12, 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 SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
An upper-level ridge
builds just offshore through the weekend to cause
sunny skies and a warming trend, temperatures 5-10oF above average. Mixing conditions improve through the
afternoon on both days with NE-E winds on Saturday then very light NW-N by Sunday
afternoon.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
The ridge remains and peaks on Monday for
little change in conditions except even warmer.
Sunny skies push temperatures 10-15oF above seasonal. Mixing conditions will be very good with light
and variable winds.
The ridge weakens by Tuesday, and flow
aloft will be WNW, but skies remain sunny while there is little change in
temperatures. Mixing conditions remain
very good with light W-NW winds in the afternoon.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 4000 - 5000 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises to above 5000 ft during
the afternoon then lowers to 3800 - 4800 ft during the evening.
Transport wind NE
to E at 6 - 10 mph during the morning and
afternoon. Transport wind increases to
NNE to ENE at 10 - 18 mph during the evening.
Surface wind NNE
to ENE at 4 - 8 mph.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4200 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
NE to E at 8 - 12 mph during the morning becoming NW
to N at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4000 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable. Surface wind light
and variable.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 4000 - 5000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SW to W at 5 - 9 mph during the morning becoming W to
NW at 10 - 18 mph during the afternoon.
Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 6
- 12 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, June 13 through 15, 2026.
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For Saturday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the NNE through E
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the
NNE through E in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the NW through E
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles to the
NW through E 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 Monday:
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.
==============================================================
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.