SMOKE MANAGEMENT FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS

SALEM FORESTRY WEATHER CENTER

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

 

ISSUED: Monday, May 13, 2024       2:30 PM      Sherri Pugh

 

1.  DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR NORTHEAST FORECAST AREA ZONES 637-646

 

SHORT-TERM DISCUSSION

 

Following an early shortwave upper-level trough passage on Monday, Tuesday will have NW flow aloft as upper-level ridging builds offshore.  A few high clouds are likely during the day with dry weather and above average temperatures.  Mixing heights will be good.  Light surface winds will come from NNW and transport winds will come from NW-NNW.

 

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

 

Wednesday will be dry with a few high clouds under the influence of the offshore upper-level ridge.  Light flow aloft will come from NNW.  Temperatures will rise well-above average and mixing heights will be good after morning inversions.  Winds will come from NW-NNW.

 

Dry weather continues on Thursday with clear skies and stable conditions.  Flow aloft comes from NW with the upper-level ridge beginning to flatten.  Winds will increase from WNW-NW.  Unseasonably warm temperatures will have good mixing heights.

 

Friday will have clear and dry weather.  A shortwave upper-level trough moves down from north as the flattening upper-level ridge moves south.  Stronger winds will be from WNW-NW.  Temperatures stay above average.  Mixing heights will be good.

 

 

2.  DISPERSION

 

TUESDAY

 

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 to 3500 - 4500 ft then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.

 

Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

 

Surface wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph throughout the day.

 

Zone 637, 643, 645, 646, and 644 East of R34E:

Mixing height below 500 ft early rising to 2300 - 3300 ft by late morning.  Afternoon mixing height rises to 4000 - 5000 ft then lowers below 1000 ft during the evening.

 

Transport wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the morning.  Transport wind increases to NW to N at 8 - 12 mph during the afternoon and evening.

 

Surface wind NW to N at 4 - 8 mph.

 

OUTLOOK:

 

WEDNESDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 5 - 9 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming NW to N at 4 - 8 mph during the afternoon.

 

THURSDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 to 3000 ft by late morning rising to 4500 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 9 - 15 mph during the afternoon.  Surface wind light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to WNW at 6 - 10 mph during the afternoon.

 

FRIDAY

Mixing height below 1000 ft early rising to 2500 to 3500 ft by late morning rising to 4000 to 5000 ft during the afternoon.  Transport wind WSW to WNW at 10 - 22 mph.  Surface wind W to NW at 9 - 15 mph.

 

3.  BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR NORTHEAST OREGON ZONES 637-646

    - Valid for burning done Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

    ==================================================================

 

Zone 640, 642, and 644 West of R35E:

Delay ignitions until 10 a.m. Follow standard guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the WNW through N of SSRAs.  For units that will smolder significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 25 miles to the WNW through N 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:

Delay ignitions until 10 a.m. 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 NNE in or near drainages leading to SSRAs.  Verify transport winds away from SSRAs if burning in any other direction. No additional restrictions necessary. 

 

    =========================================================

4.  SPECIAL NOTE:

 

    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.