SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
February 20, 2026
2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND
FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
An upper-level ridge will be stationary east of Oregon through the
weekend while a large trough is parked offshore, causing SW flow. Skies
will be partly to mostly cloudy both days while a warming trend boosts temperatures
to near average by Sunday.
Daytime mixing will generally be fair to moderate with S transport winds.
EXTENDED
DISCUSSION
The ridge remains near the eastern border of Oregon but much
broader than before. The flow becomes WSW-W
and allows more moisture to arrive. Showers
increase, mainly by Monday night and Tuesday.
Potential moisture is .10” to .25” during this period with a snow level near
6000-7000 feet.
Daytime burning conditions will be good with S-SW winds.
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 – 2500 ft during the morning. Afternoon mixing height rises to 2200 - 3200
ft and rises to 2400 - 3400 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
SSE to S at 15 - 25 mph during the morning.
Transport wind increases to SSE to SSW at 18 - 32 mph during the
afternoon and increases to SSE to SSW at 21 - 37 mph during the evening.
Surface wind SE
to S at 9 - 15 mph.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1700 - 2700 ft by late morning rising to 3300 -
4300 ft during the afternoon. Transport
wind SSE to S at 22 - 38 mph during the morning becoming S to SSW at 25 - 45
mph during the afternoon. Surface wind
SE to S at 10 - 16 mph.
MONDAY
Mixing height
1200 - 2200 ft during the morning rising to 3700 - 4700 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind SSW to SW at
14 - 28 mph. Surface wind SSE to SSW at
10 - 20 mph.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
1000 - 1800 ft during the morning rising to 3500 - 4500 ft during the
afternoon. Transport wind SW to WSW at
10 - 22 mph. Surface wind SSE to SW at 6
- 12 mph.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625 INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Saturday and
Sunday, February 21 and 22, 2026.
==================================================================
For Saturday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SSE through
SSW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles
to the SSE through SSW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Sunday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SSE through SW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 15 miles to the
SSE through SW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Care needed in selecting units as smoke will
likely fumigate along the ground in wind prone areas. 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.