_______________

Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is a “storm surge?” 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.

________________

Advisories:

• A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM TODAY FOR THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY, CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 7 AM FRIDAY FOR THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL  AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A Blue-Green Algae warning  has been cancelled for Tenmile Lakes in Coos County, but continues for 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.

________________

An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape) has moved just a touch to the east which will modify the cold northerly air that has helped us set record lows and come to within two degrees of tying Eugene’s all-time record low of -12 set on December 8, 1972. A frontal system (Blue line off to the northwest of Oregon) will bring a change in our weather. The temperatures will actually rise which will melt more snow and ice, but with the surfaces so cold we could see freezing fog sand possible freezing rain. (That’s just regular rain that freezes when it lands on a surface that is at or below freezing.)

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Pollution Index is 149 in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category measuring Particulate Matter at HWY 99, Eugene. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

Oakridge: The Pollution Index is 31 in the  Good category measuring Particulate Matter at Willamette Activity Center, Oakridge.  Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

___

Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene/Springfield: (YELLOW) Burning Cautioned Against.

Oakridge: (YELLOW) Burning Cautioned Against.

Pellet stoves are always allowed.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain or freezing rain and areas of freezing fog this AM, rain in the afternoon (0.25 in. or rain possible, 0.10 in. of ice accumulation possible), evening rain, showers likely (60%) tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Friday (under 0.10 in of rain possible), mostly cloudy with areas of fog late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy Saturday, then a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night.
• highs 37-45 lows 36-30 warming to 34 Saturday night.
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy Monday, partly cloudy Monday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 47-43 warming to near 46 Wednesday lows 32-30 warming to 38 Tuesday night. (seasonal averages high 46 low 34).

_________________

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

• Patchy fog and cloudy with AM coastal rain and a slight (20%) chance of light freezing rain while a good (50%) chance of inland AM rain and freezing rain, a chance of rain and light freezing rain this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain in the evening, showers likely (60%) late tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Friday, mostly cloudy in the evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late at night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog, a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.
• highs 50-52 lows 43-38 warming to near 40 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday, partly cloudy Sunday night through Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• highs 53-48 warming to 50 Tuesday and Wednesday lows 40-38 warming to 42 Tuesday night. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

________________
Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:

• Partly cloudy this AM, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain and snow tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible),
• Cloudy with AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, just mostly cloudy at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Saturday night.
•  snow level 4,000 ft. today and tonight, 4,500 ft. Friday and Friday night, free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Saturday, then snow level 5,500 ft. Saturday night.
• highs 38-35 warming to 42 Saturday lows 29-25 warming to 33 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Sunday, mostly cloudy at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Monday, partly cloudy at night and Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday.
• snow level 7,000 ft. Sunday, free air freezing level 6,000 ft. Sunday, 8,000 ft. Sunday night, 7,000 ft. Monday, 7,500 ft. Monday night and Tuesday, snow level 6,500 ft. Tuesday night, then 5,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 40-46 cooling to 38 Wednesday lows 28-32.