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No winner this week. Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. The “Winter Solstice” occurs at 9:11 AM December 21st. What is the significance of this event? Here is the correct answer. The Winter Solstice is the time at which the sun is farthest south in the Southern Hemisphere, on or around December 21. It is significant because it is the shortest day of the year. The days following start getting slightly longer as the sun starts its journey to the north. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. 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:

• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TODAY FOR THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY INCLUDING ALBANY/CORVALLIS AND EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD.
• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND  EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.

A Blue-Green Algae warning  has been cancelled for Devils Lake while the warning continues for Tenmile Lakes in Coos County, Fern Ridge Reservoir, Lost Creek Lake, and Willow Creek Reservoir (NE Oregon). 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 high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape) has been controlling our weather. The ridge is weakening, though. A frontal system has moved through Oregon bringing only some clouds to the area. An upper level low (shaded “U” shape) will slide to the east well south of us by the weekend and we will see clouds and a chance of showers as it spins moisture at us from the south. Two more frontal systems (positions shown are Tuesday) will push down from the northwest bringing precipitation and colder temperatures along with them starting Sunday.

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM rain likely (60%), a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible) and evening, rain late Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (wind: SW 15-25 mph),
• Rain Monday AM, possibly heavy at times, rain likely (70%) in the afternoon (0.45 in. of rain possible), evening showers, rain and snow showers likely (60%) and colder late at night (snow level 1,000 ft. late),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of AM snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Tuesday afternoon, then mostly clear Tuesday night.
• lows 45-22 highs 53-38.
• Mostly sunny Wednesday, partly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with patchy freezing fog Thursday, mostly cloudy with freezing fog at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy freezing fog and a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday, partly cloudy at night with patchy freezing fog and a slight (20%) chance of snow,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with patchy freezing fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain or snow Saturday.
• highs 34-30 warming to 36 Saturday lows 15-20. (seasonal averages high 48 low 35).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of coastal rain this evening and rain likely (60%) late tonight while a good (50%) chance of rain inland tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal rain likely (60%) with rain in the afternoon while inland rain likely (60%) Sunday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening coastal rain likely (60%) while a good (50%) chance of inland evening rain,  rain late Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, showers Monday afternoon (0.55 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft.), coastal showers while inland rain and snow showers in the evening, then rain and snow showers and colder Monday night (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,000 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday afternoon, then partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog late Tuesday night.
• lows 48-30 highs 56-46.
• Partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog Wednesday, mostly clear with patchy freezing Wednesday night,
• Partly cloudy with areas of AM and late night freezing fog Thursday and Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday and Friday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and just a bit warmer Saturday.
• highs 45-40 warming to 50 Saturday lows 25-32. (seasonal averages high 52 low 41)

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (wind: SW 10-15 mph increasing to SW 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph in the afternoon), a good (50%) chance of evening rain, rain (0. 75 in. of rain possible) late Sunday night and breezy (wind: SW 15-25 gusts to 45 mph),
• Mostly cloudy AM rain, rain (maybe heavy at times) and snow Monday afternoon and breezy (wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 50 mph), rain and snow showers in the evening, snow showers and colder late Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Tuesday, then a slight (20%) chance of snow showers at night.
• snow level 6,500 ft. tonight, 7,500 ft. Sunday, 8,000 ft. falling to 6.500 ft. late Sunday night, 6,500 ft. falling to 3,500 ft. Monday, then at the surface Monday night through Tuesday night.
• lows 35-10 highs 44-24.
• A mix of clouds and sun Wednesday, partly cloudy at night through Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday and Friday night,
• free air freezing level at the surface Wednesday through Thursday night, then snow level at the surface Friday through Saturday.
• highs 19-28 lows 5-16.