______________

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

_____

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

__________________

Here is my 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.

________________

An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape) will keep our airflow from the northwest providing the chance for precipitation through Sunday. Starting Monday we’ll dry out and see more sunshine.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 16 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 16 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 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)

________________

Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SATURDAY UNTIL 10 AM SUNDAY ABOVE 3,000 FT. FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES TO BE IN EFFECT FOR THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE AFFECTING COOS COUNTY. (Minor flooding is occurring. Should be below flood stage by Friday evening.) IF YOU LIVE NEAR OR TRAVEL NEAR THIS RIVER YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS BECAUSE FLOODING OVER THE RIVERS BANKS IS STILL OCCURRING.
• NOTE: FOR FLOOD WARNING UPDATES GO TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Watches, Warnings, and Advisories  SITE, FLOOD WARNING SECTION.
• 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.

________________

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

• Partly cloudy this evening, cloudy with patchy fog late tonight and Saturday AM with a slight (20%) chance of showers, a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday (0.10 on. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, a (40%) chance of showers with patchy fog late Sunday night (0.20 in. of rain possible),
•  A mix of clouds and sun with patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, clouds and sun Monday afternoon, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late at night.
• lows 34-39 cooling to 22 Monday night highs 48-39.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Tuesday through Wednesday night,
• Just partly cloudy Thursday (New Year’s Day), a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 34-42 lows 23-26. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33).

_________________

Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly clear this evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late tonight and Saturday morning, cloudy with a (30%) chance of afternoon showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening showers likely (60%), showers likely (70%) Saturday night (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. late),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM showers Sunday, a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. falling to 2,500 ft.), mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of evening showers,  a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon, then mostly clear with areas of freezing fog Monday night.
• highs 50-40 lows 33-40 cooling to 23 Monday night.
• Mostly sunny with areas of freezing fog Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, mostly clear nights with areas of freezing fog also, partly cloudy with areas of freezing fog Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 36-45 lows 20-29. (seasonal averages high 48 low 36)

________________

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

• Partly cloudy tonight and Saturday AM, cloudy with a (30%) chance of inland showers in the afternoon while a (40%) chance of showers at the shore (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with good (50%) chance of coastal showers while inland showers likely (60%) Saturday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Sunday AM, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of coastal showers in the afternoon while mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of inland showers Sunday afternoon (under 0.10 on. of rain possible), a (30%) chance of showers and colder Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM showers, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday afternoon, mostly clear at night.
• lows 38-42 cooling to 32 Monday night highs near 50 .
• Mostly sunny Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (New Year’s Day), mostly clear skies  Tuesday night and Wednesday night, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 44-50 lows 29-37. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy tonight and Saturday AM, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), rain and snow showers Saturday night (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a good (50%) chance of AM snow showers Sunday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM snow showers Monday, partly cloudy at night.
• snow level 3,000 ft. today, free air freezing level 4,000 ft. tonight, snow level 5,000 ft. Saturday, 3,500 ft. Saturday night, 2,500 ft. Sunday, then at the surface Sunday night.
• lows 20-27 cooling to 6 Monday night highs 36-25.
• Mostly sunny Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (New Year’s Day), partly cloudy Tuesday night and Wednesday night, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Friday.
• free air freezing level at the surface Tuesday and Tuesday night, 4,000 ft. Wednesday, at the surface Wednesday night, 6,500 ft. Thursday, snow level 5,500 ft. Thursday night, then 4,000 ft. Friday.
• highs 22-38 lows 17-25.

________________

**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.

________________

Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at EugeneDailyNews.com.

________________