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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column Watch Out! It Might Be A Warning.
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Here is my weekly weather quiz question. If a weather bulletin is issued by the National Weather Service stating that “a tornado is moving NW at 20 mph (toward your location) take shelter immediately” what constitutes shelter and is there a safe place to hide from a tornado? Please remember to post your answer as a comment by clicking on “no comments /comments” in the upper right hand portion of this page under the caption, then add your comment. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized weather forecasts tailored to your needs. The answer has to be a comment to win. An email answer will not count. Good luck.
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Advisories: A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL UNTIL 11 PM THURSDAY ALONG THE CASCADES AND THE FOOTHILLS OF NORTHWEST OREGON INCLUDING THE GIFFORD-PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST, MT. HOOD, AND THE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FORESTS CONTINUING INTO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST OREGON DUE TO LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND THE THREAT OF DRY THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LIGHTNING CAPABLE OF STARTING MORE WILDFIRES.
There is a Blue-Green Algae warning that continues for Dexter Reservoir and Dorena Reservoir has just been added to the list. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins, state public health officials said. The algae levels are likely associated with dangerous cyanotoxin concentrations in the water that can be harmful to humans and animals. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets, as well as skin contact with water, should be avoided according to the authorities.
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An upper level low (shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) is sliding through northern California and Oregon bringing a chance of showers and isolated, mainly dry, thunderstorms today and Thursday over the mountains. The big problem with that is the development of dry thunderstorms, particularly over the mountains and foothills, that can produce more wildfires through lightning strikes.
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The Grass Pollen Count is listed as Moderate at 8 and Tree pollen is Low at 3 as of 7/26/13 and both have risen a bit according to Oregon Allergy Associates.
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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis: Mostly cloudy this afternoon, partly cloudy this evening (with the chance of thunderstorms in the mountains and foothills there is a slight (20%) chance of a dry thunderstorm wobbling our way), mostly cloudy late tonight, cloudy Thursday AM, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy late Thursday night and Friday AM, partly cloudy Friday afternoon and Friday night highs 80-74 warming to 78 Friday lows 54-50. Partly cloudy Saturday AM, then mostly sunny Saturday afternoon through Tuesday with mostly clear nights highs 85-88 lows 50-54. (seasonal averages high 84 low 52)
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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of isolated dry thunderstorms this AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening with areas of smoke, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight and more smoke, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and areas of smoke Thursday AM, partly cloudy with areas of smoke Thursday afternoon, then partly cloudy with areas of smoke Thursday night through Friday night highs 85-78 warming to 82 lows 56-53. Partly cloudy with areas of smoke Saturday and Saturday night, then mostly sunny Sunday through Tuesday with mostly clear skies at night highs 86-89 lows 55-59 cooling to 54 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 86 low 57)
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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Mostly cloudy today with a slight (20%) chance isolated thunderstorms inland (areas of smoke) with a slight (20%) chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorms at the shore, partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy tonight with areas of smoke inland, mostly cloudy Thursday AM with areas of inland smoke, partly cloudy in the afternoon with more smoke inland, mostly cloudy Thursday night with patchy coastal fog late and areas of smoke inland, mostly cloudy with patchy fog Friday AM areas of inland smoke, partly cloudy in the afternoon and evening with areas of inland smoke, then partly cloudy with areas of smoke Friday night highs 60-64 lows near 50. Partly cloudy with areas of fog Saturday and Saturday night, then partly cloudy Sunday through Tuesday highs 64-67 cooling to 64 Tuesday lows 52-55 cooling to near 50 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 65 low 53)
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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County: A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of scattered dry thunderstorms this AM, a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, partly cloudy late Thursday night through Friday night snow level above 8,000 ft. today through Thursday night, free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Friday, then 11,000 ft. rising to 12,000 ft. Friday night highs 73-66 lows 48-43 warming to 46 Friday night. Mostly sunny Saturday through Tuesday with mostly clear nights free air freezing level 12,000 ft. rising to 13,000 ft. Saturday, 13,000 ft. Saturday night through Sunday night, 13,000 ft. rising to 14,000 ft. Monday ,night, then 14,000 ft. falling to 13,000 ft. Tuesday highs 72-76 lows 48-50.
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**Because weather forecasting is a combination of science, intuition, and timing there can be no absolute guarantees that individual forecasts will be 100% accurate. Nature is in a constant state of flux and sudden unexpected weather events can happen.
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