SMOKE MANAGEMENT
FORECAST AND INSTRUCTIONS
SALEM FORESTRY
WEATHER CENTER
OREGON DEPARTMENT
OF FORESTRY
ISSUED: Tuesday,
June 16, 2026 2:30 PM Gary Votaw
*********************************************************************
We
Need Your Feedback!
The Smoke Management
Department is planning to “upgrade” this product so that it more effectively
meets your needs. To assist us with this project, we are requesting
feedback from you!
Below are a few questions
to help you consider what changes would be most beneficial for
you. All ideas are welcome!
Is the “Short-Term
Discussion” useful? What would enhance it?
Is the “Long-term
Discussion” useful? What would enhance it?
How could the “Dispersion”
forecast better meet your needs?
Is the “Outlook”
useful? What would enhance it?
Are the “Burning
Instructions” clear and concise? How could they be improved for your
use?
How do you access the
forecast product (i.e., Email; web page; telephone recording)?
We are considering
discontinuing or upgrading the phone recording of the forecast
product. Is that something you currently use? Would you
use it if you could get your specific forecast from it faster?
Please Email your feedback
to: Peter.GJ.Parsons@odf.oregon.gov
Thank you!
*********************************************************************
1. DISCUSSION AND FORECAST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
OREGON ZONES 624 AND 625
SHORT-TERM
DISCUSSION
Sunny, very warm and dry weather
continues Wednesday under very weak NW flow aloft. Temperatures will be around 10oF
above average. Mixing becomes good in
the afternoon with very light NW winds.
EXTENDED DISCUSSION
Little change occurs on Thursday,
mostly sunny and very warm. Mixing again
is good by afternoon with light SW-W winds.
An upper trough off the California
coast is expected to push moisture into the region by Friday. There is a chance of showers and
thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening while some clouds keep
temperatures down a little. Mixing will
be good with light SW winds.
On Saturday flow
aloft remains very weak while conditions are mostly sunny and seasonal. Mixing is good with light W winds.
2. DISPERSION
WEDNESDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft during the morning. Mixing height rises to above 5000 ft during
the afternoon then lowers to 2000 - 3000 ft during the evening.
Transport wind
WNW to NNW at 5 - 9 mph throughout the morning and afternoon. Transport wind shifts to N to NE and
increases to 10 - 16 mph during the evening.
Surface wind
light and variable and controlled by local terrain. Surface wind increases to N to NE at 6 - 12
mph during the evening.
OUTLOOK:
THURSDAY
Mixing height below
1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000 ft
during the afternoon. Transport wind ESE
to SSE at 6 - 10 mph during the morning becoming SW to W at 6 - 10 mph during
the afternoon. Surface wind light and
variable.
FRIDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 2000 - 3000 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 during the morning becoming SW to W at 4 - 8 mph during the
afternoon.
SATURDAY
Mixing height
below 1000 ft early rising to 3000 - 4000 ft by late morning rising above 5000
ft during the afternoon. Transport wind
WSW to WNW at 4 - 8 mph. Surface wind
light and variable during the morning becoming WSW to NW at 4 - 8 mph during
the afternoon.
3. BURNING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ZONES 624 AND 625
INCLUDING THE WALKER
RANGE PORTION OF ZONE 624
- Valid for burning done Wednesday, June
17, 2026.
==================================================================
Follow standard
guidance matrix - see section 5 below - for burning units to the W through NE
of SSRAs. For units that will smolder
significantly through the night avoid burning within at least 15 miles in all
directions of 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 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.