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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:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 7 AM MONDAY FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM UNTIL 1 PM MONDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOUS MOUNTAINS.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM 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) will be drawing much colder air down to the Pacific Northwest. One frontal system moved through Oregon with the warm front already followed by the cold front. Two more cold fronts will push down from the northwest (Blue lines on map) bringing some precipitation, snow flakes possible with no valley accumulation expected, much colder temperatures starting Monday.

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

• Cloudy with rain, possibly heavy at times, tonight (1.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (wind: SW 20-30 mph decreasing to SW 10-20 mph),
• AM rain, showers likely (60%) Monday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (60%), rain and snow showers and colder late at night (no snow accumulation expected),
• Partly cloudy Tuesday, partly cloudy and colder Tuesday night,
• Mostly sunny and colder Wednesday, then partly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late Wednesday night.
• lows 45-15 highs 45-34.
• Areas of AM freezing fog, partly cloudy Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow with freezing fog late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with areas of freezing fog and a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday and Friday night,
• Patchy freezing fog with mostly cloudy skies and a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Saturday, partly cloudy at night,
• Then mostly sunny Sunday.
• highs 32-37 lows 20-22. (seasonal averages high 47 low 35).

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) this evening, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (wind: W 15-25 mph),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, showers Monday afternoon (0.55 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft.), coastal showers in the evening and showers likely (60%) late at night while inland evening rain and snow showers , then rain and snow showers likely (60%) inland and colder Monday night (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft. falling to 1,000 ft. late at night),
• Partly cloudy Tuesday with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal showers, partly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM freezing fog, sunny Wednesday afternoon, clear in the evening, with patchy freezing fog late Wednesday night,
• lows 48-26 highs 50-43.
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM and late night freezing fog Thursday and Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Friday, a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon, mostly cloudy in the afternoon and Saturday night,
• Then sunny Sunday.
• highs 39-45 lows 30-33. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40)

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain, heavy at times, (1.50 in. of rain possible, 2 in.-4 in. of snow possible above 5,000 ft.) and windy (wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph on exposed ridges) late tonight,
• AM rain, heavy at times, rain and snow showers in the afternoon (0.75 in. of rain possible, 3 in.-7 in. of snow possible above 4,000 ft.) and snow showers Monday afternoon and breezy (wind: SW 15-25 mph decreasing to W 10-15 mph gusts to 45 mph), rain and snow showers in the evening, snow showers and colder late Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1 in.-4 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of   snow showers Tuesday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers at night,
• Then partly cloudy Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• snow level 7,000 ft. falling to 5,000 ft. late tonight, 2,500 ft. Monday, at the surface Monday night through Tuesday night, then free air freezing level at the surface Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• lows 33-5 highs 33-19.
• Partly cloudy Thursday and Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of snow Saturday, partly cloudy Saturday night,
• Then Mostly sunny Sunday.
• free air freezing level at the surface Thursday and Thursday night, snow level at the surface Friday through Saturday, then free air freezing level at the surface Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 24-30 lows 16-20.