SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Tuesday,
September 16, 2025 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
1. DISCUSSION AND
FORECAST FOR NORTHEAST FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646
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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
WEDNESDAY
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 1300 - 2300 ft during
the morning. Mixing height rises above
5000 ft during the afternoon then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind SE
to S at 6 - 10 mph throughout the morning and afternoon. Transport wind shifts to NNW to NE at 6 - 10
mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain during the morning. Surface wind increases to SE to S at 4 - 8
mph during the afternoon then becomes light and variable during the evening.
Zone 637, 643,
645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 2800 - 3800 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises above 5000 ft during the
afternoon then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind SE
to S at 6 - 12 mph throughout the day.
Surface wind ESE
to SSE at 5 - 9 mph during the morning and afternoon. Surface wind becomes light and variable and
controlled by local terrain during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
THURSDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2200 to 3200 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
ESE to SSE at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming SSE to SSW at 6 - 10 mph
during the afternoon. Surface wind light
and variable during the morning becoming ESE to SSE at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1000 to 2000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
light and variable during the morning becoming W to NNW at 5 - 9 mph during the
afternoon. Surface wind light and
variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 1500 to 2500 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WNW to NNW at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind
light and variable during the morning becoming W to NW at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
3. BURNING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON ZONES 637-646
- Valid for burning done Wednesday through
Friday, September 17 through 19, 2025.
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For Wednesday:
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***
Zone 640, 642,
and 644 West of R35E:
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. Watch for shifting
transport winds. 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 ESE through
SSW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles
to the ESE through SSW in or near drainages leading to SSRAs. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Thursday:
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the ENE through
SSW of SSRAs. For units that will
smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles
in all directions of SSRAs. Watch for
shifting transport winds. No additional restrictions necessary.
For Friday:
***Avoid
ignitions before 10 a.m. in all zones.***
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 30 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.
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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.