We have a winner! The question was: When were clouds first classified and who was responsible for naming them? April Merrill is the first person to post the correct answer “Luke Howard.”  He was a 19th century apothecary who addressed the Askesian Society in London, England (at their meeting in the winter of 1802-1803) with his proposal to classify the various cloud forms into a rational system with suitable names to facilitate their observation and understanding. French naturalist Jean Lamarck had introduced a cloud typing scheme in 1802, but it was not widely accepted. You can check out her winning post. It follows Thursday evening’s forecast. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you next Monday.

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A high pressure ridge has moved in just a bit earlier than I expected while the latest storm system sags southward into California taking the chance of precipitation with it. The next cold front will bring the rain back by Sunday. That means a dry and pleasant day today (the only chance of getting wet is along the South Coast and from Roseburg South)and dry again on Saturday.

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Advisories: NONE AT THIS TIME.

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:  A mix of clouds and sun today high near 60. Partly cloudy with patchy fog tonight low 39.  AM fog or low clouds then a mix of clouds and sun Saturday high near 60.  Partly cloudy Saturday night low 38. Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday morning then a good (50%) chance in the afternoon high 56. Rain likely (60%) Sunday night low 37. Mostly cloudy with a (50%) chance of showers Monday and Monday night high 52 low 35. Partly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Tuesday high near 53. Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Tuesday night and showers likely (60%) Wednesday low 37 high 54. Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday low 40 high 56.

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:  Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of scattered showers this afternoon high 57. Mostly cloudy with a  (40%) chance of isolated showers this evening then partly cloudy late tonight through Saturday night lows near 40 high 62 . Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of  showers Sunday, morning snow level 1,500′ high 59. Showers likely Sunday evening changing to snow showers late Sunday night low 38. Mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (60%) Monday high 53. A (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday night with rain and snow likely (60%) Tuesday low 35 highs near 55. Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday night low 38. Rain and snow likely (60%) Wednesday, a showers likely (60%) Wednesday night, and rain likely (60%) Thursday highs near 56 low near 38.

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend:  Mostly cloudy with scattered showers this afternoon high 57. Mostly cloudy this evening with isolated evening showers at the coast then partly cloudy late tonight through Saturday night lows 40 high 56. Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Sunday showers likely (60%) Sunday evening then showers at night high 53 low 39. Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Monday  and a (40%) chance at night high 50 low 36. Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday high 52. Rain likely (60%) Tuesday night and Wednesday low 43 high 54. Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Wednesday night and rain likely (50%) Thursday low 44 high 56.

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:  A mix of clouds and sun this afternoon with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers snow level 3,500′ high 40.  Partly cloudy tonight free air freezing level 5,000′ low 27. A mix of clouds and sun Saturday free air freezing level 5,500′, then partly cloudy Saturday night free air freezing level 5,500′ high 44 low 28. Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Sunday  morning then a (40%) chance in the afternoon and rain and snow likely (60%) Sunday night snow level  falling to 3,000′ high 40 low 30 . Mostly cloudy with  snow showers likely Monday and a good (50%) chance of snow showers Monday night, snow level 2,500′  highs 36  low near 25. Partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Tuesday snow level 2,500′ and snow likely (60%) Tuesday night snow level 3,000′ high 38  low 28. Snow showers likely (60%) Wednesday snow level 3,000′, snow showers likely (60%) Wednesday night snow level 2,500′, and a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Thursday snow level 3,000′ highs 36-38 low 29.

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