SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Friday,
August 1, 2025
2:30 PM Sherri Pugh
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR NORTHEAST
FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646
*********************************************************************
*** Constructed
For Guidance (Clearance by Phone Only) ***
*********************************************************************
********************** 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.
*********************************************************************
2. DISPERSION
SATURDAY
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Mixing height
below 500 ft early rising to 2000 - 3000 ft by late morning. Afternoon mixing height rises above 5000 ft
then lowers to 1500 - 2500 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Transport wind increases to SW to W at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon then shifts and increases to WNW to NNW at 8 - 12 mph
during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon and evening.
Zone 637, 643,
645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:
Mixing height
below 300 ft early rising to 3500 - 4500 ft by late morning. Afternoon mixing height rises above 5000 ft
then lowers to 1000 - 2000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Transport wind increases to WSW to WNW at 4 -
8 mph during the afternoon then shifts to WNW to NNW at 6 - 10 mph during the
evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to W to NW at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon and evening.
OUTLOOK:
SUNDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable during the morning becoming S to SW at 5 - 9 mph during the
afternoon. Surface wind light and
variable.
MONDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3500 to 4500 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind W
to NW at 4 - 8 mph.
TUESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
SSW to WSW at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind
light and variable.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON
ZONES 637-646
- Valid for burning done Saturday through
Tuesday, August 2 through 5, 2025.
==================================================================
For Saturday:
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SW through NNW
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles to the
SW through NNW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. 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 WSW through
NNW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 15 miles
to the WSW through NNW 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 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. No additional
restrictions necessary.
For Monday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the WSW through
NNW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 10 miles
to the SW through NNW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if
burning in any other direction. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Tuesday:
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the SSW through
NNW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles
to the SSW through NNW 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.
=========================================================
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.