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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column “A Shooting Star Bonanza”

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And don’t forget my latest feature story in the continuing series on service club organizations called Who Are The Soroptimists And What Are They Doing?

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No winner this week. Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “Shortwave?”  And I don’t mean a type of radio. Here is the correct answer. A Shortwave, also known as Shortwave Trough; a disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it. If other conditions are favorable, the upward motion can contribute to thunderstorm development ahead of a shortwave. 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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There are two upper level lows that will be controlling our weather for a while. One upper level low (“Oval” shape in blue arrows off southern California) has induced high pressure over us that will keep the air trapped over us for raid heating. The low will move to the north and east over us, cooling us abit. The second low is off the Pacific Northwest (shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) and it will move through later. A frontal system looks like it is preparing to visit the Pacific Northwest next Tuesday, with the help of the upper level low to our northwest, bringing the chance of thunderstorms just ahead of and behind it. The Perseid Meteor shower will continue and peak on the night of Tuesday August 12. The weather is looking just about perfect for the Scandinavian Festival through Sunday in Junction City.

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Advisories:

• A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY UNTIL 9 PM MONDAY FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON, THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, AND THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, AND THE HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM TODAY UNTIL 11 PM TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH DRY FUELS FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES AND THE SOUTH OREGON CASCADES, AND THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COAST RANGE OF OREGON, UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST, THE KLAMATH BASIN, AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 5 AM TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH DRY FUELS FOR THE UMPQUA BASIN, THE SOUTHERN OREGON COAST, THE WESTERN ROGUE RIVER, AND THE SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TODAY UNTIL 11 PM TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH DRY FUELS FOR THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST, THE KLAMATH BASIN, THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST, AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 5 AM TUESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH DRY FUELS FOR THE SOUTH  CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• THE HEALTH ADVISORY FOR SEAL ROCK BEACH IN LINCOLN COUNTY HAS BEEN LIFTED.
• THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ADVISORY FOR ODELL LAKE HAS BEEN LIFTED. THE LEVEL OF CYANOTOXIN FOUND IN ODEL LAKE IN KLAMATH COUNTY HAVE DROPPED ENOUGH FOR THE HEALTH ADVISORY CANCEL THE ADVISORY.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PRESENCE OF HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL FECAL BACTERIA  AT MILL BEACH IN CURRY COUNTY. DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SURF OR WATER RUNNING INTO THE  SURF IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE AVOIDED UNTIL THE ADVISORY IS LIFTED, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, WHO MAY BE MORE VULNERABLE TO WATERBORNE BACTERIA.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PRESENCE OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FOR WALTERVILLE POND IN LANE COUNTY AND AT DEVILS LAKE IN LINCOLN COUNTY. THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM MEANS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE AFFECTED WATER AND THAT ALSO GOES FOR ANY PETS.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 28 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at Springfield City Hall. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 19 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at Willamette Activity Center, Oakridge. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (6)

Trees………. Absent (0)

Last Counted: 8/6/14

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates

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

• Mostly sunny today, partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday afternoon, a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers late at night.
• highs 95-97 cooling to 88 Tuesday lows 60-58.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, partly cloudy with slight (20%) of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, just mostly cloudy late Wednesday night.
• Mostly cloudy Thursday AM, partly cloudy in the afternoon and Thursday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Friday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday AM,  then mostly sunny Saturday afternoon.
• highs 83-80 warming to 86 Friday cooling to 83 Saturday lows near 57. (seasonal averages high 84 low 52)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Partly cloudy with isolated dry thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, scattered dry thunderstorms late tonight,
• Partly cloudy with isolated dry thunderstorms Monday and in the evening, isolated dry thunderstorms at night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday and in the evening, partly cloudy Tuesday night.
• highs 96-89 lows 66-59.
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and cooler Wednesday afternoon and evening, mostly clear late at night,
• Mostly sunny Thursday and Friday, mostly clear both nights,
• Then sunny Saturday.
• highs 80-88 cooling to 85 Saturday lows 58-60. (seasonal averages high 86 low 56)

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

• Partly cloudy today and this evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated dry thunderstorms (thunder and lightning without significant rainfall) late tonight and Monday AM, partly cloudy with scattered dry thunderstorms in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated dry coastal thunderstorms while a slight (20%) chance of isolated dry thunderstorms inland in the evening and isolated dry thunderstorms late at night Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM thunderstorms, partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon and evening, then mostly cloudy late Tuesday night.
• highs near 64 lows near 56.
• Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and in the evening, partly cloudy late Wednesday night,
• Partly cloudy Thursday through Friday, mostly clear at night,
• Then mostly sunny Saturday.
• highs near 63 lows near 55. (seasonal averages high 65 low 53)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny this AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, more in storms), a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, more possible in storms),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday AM, showers and thunderstorms likely (60%) in the afternoon, partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers in the evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms at night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. today through Tuesday night.
• highs 84-76 lows 54-50.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday AM, a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms late Wednesday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday, and in the evening, just partly cloudy Thursday night,
• Then mostly sunny Friday and Saturday, mostly clear Friday night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Wednesday through Thursday night, free air freezing level 15,000 ft. Friday and Friday night, then 16,000 ft. Saturday.
• highs 70-75 cooling to 69 Saturday lows 47-50.

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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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