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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 weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is “The Saffir-Simpson Scale?” Here is the correct answer. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane’s intensity at the indicated time. The scale provides examples of the type of damage and impacts in the United States associated with winds of the indicated intensity. In general, damage rises by about a factor of four for every category increase. The maximum sustained surface wind speed (peak 1-minute wind at the standard meteorological observation height of 10 m [33 ft] over unobstructed exposure) associated with the cyclone is the determining factor in the scale. The scale does not address the potential for other hurricane-related impacts, such as storm surge, rainfall-induced floods, and tornadoes. 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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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.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter at Amazon Park, Eugene. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 29 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 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TODAY UNTIL 10 AM SUNDAY ABOVE 3,000 FT. FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE 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:

• Cloudy with patchy fog this AM with a slight (20%) chance of rain, rain this afternoon  (0.25 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday (0.10 on. of rain possible) and 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 with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late at night.
• highs 48-40 lows 37-22.
• 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 (30%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 34-42 lows 23-26. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33).

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog this 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%) tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• 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, snow level 2,500 ft. falling to 2,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers Monday, 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 40-23.
• 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)

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

• Partly cloudy this AM, cloudy with a (30%) chance of inland showers this 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%) tonight (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.
• highs 50-47 lows 42-32.
• 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)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers Saturday night (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-5 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with snow showers likely (70%) Sunday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%) Monday, becoming partly cloudy at night.
• snow level 4,000 ft. today and tonight, 2,500 ft. Sunday, then at the surface Sunday night and Monday, free air freezing level at the surface Monday night.
• highs 36-25 lows 27-6.
• 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.

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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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