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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column Remember What Don Essig Always Says. Really?

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Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is a “wall cloud?”  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, and now Fern Ridge Reservoir has 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 (“U” shape with blue arrows) moved to the south away from us and now is moving northeastward through California. The upper airflow has been coming from just about due-West which is called “Zonal Flow.” Now the airflow has moved from the south producing the chance of showers and thunderstorms as the upper low rides north. The Eugene Celebration runs Friday through Sunday and so far the weather is looking pretty good. Look for cooler temperatures with just a slight chance of AM drizzle Saturday and a slight chance of a shower Sunday. Temperatures will drop from the heat we’ve been having to just a bit cooler than normal. Dress accordingly.

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The Grass Pollen Count is listed as Absent at 0 and Tree pollen is Absent at 0 as of 8/22/13 according to Oregon Allergy Associates.

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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 with a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy late tonight.
• Mostly cloudy Friday AM, partly cloudy Friday afternoon, mostly cloudy late Friday night, cloudy Saturday AM with patchy fog and drizzle, a mix of clouds and sun in the afternoon, partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy late Saturday night.
• highs 83-78 lows 57-54.
• Mostly cloudy Sunday with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon, partly cloudy Sunday night through Monday evening, mostly cloudy late Monday night and Tuesday AM, partly cloudy in the afternoon and Tuesday night, then a mix of clouds and sun Wednesday.
• highs 77-80 cooling to near 78 Wednesday lows near 52. (seasonal averages high 83 low 51)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Areas of AM smoke, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), areas of smoke again late tonight.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of smoke Friday AM, partly cloudy with areas of smoke in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog and areas of smoke late at night.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog and areas of smoke Saturday, then mostly cloudy with more patchy smoke and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Saturday night.
• highs 89-77 lows 59-56.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of smoke and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Sunday and Sunday evening, then partly cloudy late Sunday night through Wednesday.
• highs 80-83 lows 54-56. (seasonal averages high 84 low 55)

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Mostly cloudy with patchy coastal fog this AM, a (30%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this AM, a (30%) chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy tonight and Friday, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late Friday night.
• Patchy AM fog and patchy drizzle, then mostly cloudy with patchy lingering fog Saturday and Saturday night.
• highs 65-68 lows 59-56.
• Patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy with patchy fog lingering fog Sunday, then just partly cloudy Sunday night through Wednesday.
• highs 69-67 lows 53-56. (seasonal averages high 66 low 53)

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this AM, a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening (0.10 in of rain possible, more in storms), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms late tonight.
• Partly cloudy Friday and Friday night.
• A mix of clouds and sun Saturday with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Saturday night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. today and tonight, free air freezing level 13,000 ft. Friday and Friday night, snow level above 8,000 ft. Saturday and Saturday night.
• highs 72-67 lows 49-43.
• Cloudy Sunday with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Sunday night.
• Partly cloudy Monday through Wednesday.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday evening, free air freezing level 11,000 ft. late Sunday night and Monday, 11,000 ft rising to 12,000 ft. late Monday night and Tuesday, 12,000 ft. rising to 13,000 ft. at night, then 13,000 ft. Wednesday.
• Highs 65-70 falling to 66 Wednesday lows near 45.

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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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