SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
December 26, 2025 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
*********************************************************************
* Special Protection Zone
(SPZ) provisions apply from November 15 through February
15. Prescribed burning is not allowed in an SPZ from December 1
through February 15 on days when the daily woodstove “Ordinance” is either
“Red,” “Exempt Wood Burning Device,” or “No Burning Period.” Burning
is allowed inside of SPZs all other days, but please use extra precautions and
limit forestland burning to units that will not worsen air quality within
nearby SSRAs. *
*********************************************************************
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
On Saturday NW flow aloft will bring air into the region that is
still fairly well mixed. Conditions will
be mostly sunny and cold. Expect
moderately good mixing with mainly NW winds.
An upper
ridge centered offshore begins to dominate by Sunday with decreasing burning
potential. Mostly sunny skies will help
little as temperatures remain below seasonal levels. Mixing will generally be poor with very light
NNE-E winds.
EXTENDED
DISCUSSION
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Mixing height
3200 - 4200 ft during the morning.
Mixing height rises above 5000 ft during the afternoon then lowers below
1000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind NW
to NNW at 10 - 18 mph.
Surface wind W to
NW at 8 - 14 mph during the morning and afternoon. Surface wind becomes light and variable and
controlled by local terrain during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft during the morning rising to 1400 - 2400 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind NNE to E at 4
- 8 mph. Surface wind light and
variable.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft throughout the day.
Transport wind ESE to SSE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft throughout the day.
Transport wind ESE to SSE at 5 - 9 mph.
Surface wind light and variable.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625
INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Monday, December 27 through 29, 2025.
==================================================================
For Saturday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the NW through NNE
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles to the
NW through ENE in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. 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 30 miles
in all directions of SSRAs. Complete ignitions by 2:30 p.m. No
additional restrictions necessary.
For Monday:
Delay
ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow
standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the E
through SSE of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 30 miles
to the E through SSE in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. Complete ignitions by 2:30
p.m. 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.