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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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No winner this week. Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. 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? Here is the correct answer. Shelter would be a place in your house, for example, with a small roofline like a closet. If you have a basement that’s a good choice especially if you can get under a sturdy workbench. The bathroom can be a good spot as long as it doesn’t have any windows or glass shower doors. Hunker down and cover your head with a pillow or something that would prevent a head injury. Remember, you are looking for the safest place near you at the time. 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: 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 east of us now but still bringing a chance of showers and isolated, mainly dry, thunderstorms 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. We may get a break from that thunderstorm chance as that upper low pulls farther away from us, but another low (“U” shape with blue arrows) will once again slide in along the northern California coast.
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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 AM, mostly sunny this afternoon, mostly clear tonight, partly cloudy Sunday AM, mostly sunny Sunday afternoon, partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, then mostly clear Monday night highs 83-88 lows 52-55. Mostly sunny Tuesday, then partly cloudy Tuesday night through Friday highs 88-85 lows near 53. (seasonal averages high 84 low 52)
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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg: Mostly cloudy with areas of smoke again this AM, sunny with areas of smoke this afternoon, then partly cloudy with areas of smoke tonight through Monday night highs 87-92 lows 56-59. Partly cloudy with areas of smoke Tuesday through Friday highs 89-85 warming back to near 90 Friday lows near 57. (seasonal averages high 86 low 57)
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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Mostly cloudy with areas of inland smoke again this AM, partly cloudy with areas of inland smoke this afternoon and tonight, mostly cloudy with areas of smoke in the AM, partly cloudy Sunday afternoon with more inland smoke, partly cloudy in the evening and mostly cloudy late Sunday night with areas of inland smoke again, then partly cloudy Monday and Monday night highs near 60 lows 53-50. Partly cloudy Tuesday through Friday highs 64-62 lows near 53. (seasonal averages high 65 low 53)
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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County: Mostly sunny and warmer today, mostly clear tonight, mostly sunny Sunday with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon thunderstorms, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, partly cloudy late at night, mostly sunny Monday AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, then just partly cloudy late Monday night free air freezing level 12,000 ft. today, 12,000 ft. rising to 13,000 ft. tonight, snow level above 8,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, free air freezing level 13,000 ft. Monday AM, snow level above 8,000 ft. in the afternoon and evening, free air freezing level 13,000 ft. late Monday night highs 72-78 lows 49-52. Mostly sunny in the AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening, just partly cloudy late Tuesday night through Wednesday night, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon through Friday snow level above 8,000 ft. Tuesday afternoon and evening, free air freezing level 14,000 ft. late at night, 14,000 ft. Wednesday, 14,000 ft. falling to 13,000 ft. late Wednesday night, 13,000 ft. rising 14,000 ft. Thursday AM, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Thursday afternoon through Friday highs 76-73 lows near 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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Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at Eugene Daily News.com.
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