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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column We Don’t Have Pets, They Have Us.

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And don’t forget my latest feature story in the continuing series on service club organizations called “Assistance” Is Their First Name.

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Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “The Saffir-Simpson Scale?” 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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An Upper Level Ridge of High Pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape) will start to slowly dry us out as we get closer to Christmas Day on Thursday. A frontal system will bend its way back from the south and move back onshore increasing our rain chances a bit.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 23 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at HWY 99, Eugene. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 36 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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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene/Springfield: YELLOW – Burning is Cautioned Against.

Oakridge: YELLOW – Burning is Cautioned Against.

(The use of Pellet stoves is always allowed.)

Advisory Courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Advisories:

• A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE AFFECTING COOS COUNTY, THE NORTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER NEAR MYRTLE POINT AFFECTING COOS COUNTY, AND SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AFFECTING COOS COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SIUSLAW RIVER NEAR MAPLETON AFFECTING LANE COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MARYS RIVER NEAR PHILOMATH AFFECTING BENTON COUNTY, AND THE LUCKIAMUTE RIVER NEAR SUVER AFFECTING BENTON AND POLK COUNTIES. IF YOU LIVE NEAR OR TRAVEL NEAR THESE RIVERS YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS BECAUSE FLOODING OVER THE RIVERS BANKS IS EXPECTED.
• NOTE: FOR FLOOD WARNING UPDATES GO TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FLOOD WARNING ADVISORIES SITE.
• A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE PRESENCE OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE AT LOST CREEK LAKE , LOCATED 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF MEDFORD ON THE ROGUE RIVER IN JACKSON COUNTY AND AT DEVILS LAKE IN LINCOLN COUNTY. THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM MEANS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DRINK OR HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE AFFECTED WATER AND THAT ALSO GOES FOR ANY PETS.

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) this AM, a good (50%) chance of rain this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of rain tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible) with patchy fog late,
• Patchy AM fog with a (30%) chance of rain, a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, a good (50%) rain late Tuesday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain, possibly heavy at times, Wednesday, then showers likely (70%) Wednesday night (Christmas Eve).
• highs 56-48 lows 35-32 warming back to 35 Wednesday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday (Christmas Day), mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday, a (30%) chance of rain Friday night and Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Sunday.
• highs 45-42 warming to 44 Sunday lows 34-28 warming to 35 Saturday night. (seasonal averages high 45 low 35).

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of  rain this evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight with areas of fog late at night and Tuesday AM, becoming partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy in the evening, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) with areas of fog late at night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday AM, rain in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with rain or snow showers late Wednesday night (Christmas Eve).
• highs 57-50 lows 47-37.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers Thursday (Christmas Day), a (40%) chance of afternoon showers, partly cloudy at night and Friday, just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday and at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs near 46 lows 32-35. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

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

• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, a (40%) chance of rain this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight with areas of fog late at night and Tuesday AM, mostly cloudy with  the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) with areas of fog developing late,
• Mostly cloudy with coastal rain Wednesday while AM rain likely (70%) inland and rain in the afternoon, then showers in the evening and showers likely (70%) late at night (Christmas Eve).
• highs 56-50 lows 52-42.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Thursday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy Thursday night and Friday, just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 49-46 lows 38-42. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Wednesday AM, rain and snow in the afternoon, then snow showers at night (Christmas Eve).
• snow level 7,000 ft. today and tonight, above 8,000 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, 7,000 ft. falling to 5,000 ft. Wednesday afternoon, then 2,500 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 42-45 cooling to 40 Wednesday lows 34-23.
• Mostly cloudy with snow showers likely (60% Thursday (Christmas Day), a (30%) chance of snow showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%)  chance of rain and snow showers Friday, just partly cloudy at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of snow showers Sunday.
• snow level at the surface Thursday, 2,500 ft. Thursday night, 3,000 ft. Friday, 4,500 ft. Friday night, 4,000 ft. Saturday, 2,500 ft. Saturday night, then at the surface Sunday.
• highs 30-37 lows 22-25.

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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 EugeneDailyNews.com.

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