______________

Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column When A Hat Isn’t Just A Hat.

_____

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 new weekly weather quiz question. What is an “Omega High?” 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) that is keeping our airflow from the north (northwest then northeast)  sent a frontal system through Oregon. A second modified Arctic Cold Front will be spreading much colder air to us starting today as we dry out and see more sunshine. We could see a mix of rain at snow even to the Valley floor, but it won’t stick.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 12 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 7 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 WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA AND THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
• A WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH NOON TUESDAY ABOVE 3,000 FT. FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES.
• A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 10 AM TUESDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY AND THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM TUESDAY 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.

________________

Your College Football Weather Forecast: January 1st 2015 – Semi-Final Playoff Ducks vs Florida State at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff: 2 PM – Preliminary Forecast- Mostly sunny 50 warming to 55 then slow cooling as the game progresses.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of  rain and snow showers this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, no snow accumulation expected, snow level 1,000 ft.),  clear and colder with patchy fog late tonight,
• Sunny and colder Tuesday, clear and cold with patchy freezing fog late Tuesday night,
• Patchy freezing fog Wednesday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon and night with patchy freezing fog late Wednesday night,
• highs 42-32 lows 24-15 warming to 20 Wednesday night.
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy Thursday (New Year’s Day), mostly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of freezing fog Friday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon, just partly cloudy Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (20%) chance of rain Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 35-43 lows 24-32. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33).

_________________

Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft.), a slight (20%) chance of evening snow, mostly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late tonight and Tuesday AM, partly cloudy in the afternoon and at night with areas of freezing fog late,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog Wednesday, mostly clear with patchy freezing fog late Wednesday night.
• highs 42-35  lows near 22.
• Patchy freezing fog Thursday AM, partly cloudy in the afternoon (New Year’s Day), mostly cloudy at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with patchy freezing fog Friday, mostly cloudy Friday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of Saturday, then just mostly cloudy Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 37-44 lows 29-37. (seasonal averages high 48 low 36)

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of coastal rain today while rain likely (70%) inland this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.), partly cloudy in the evening, becoming mostly clear late tonight,
• Sunny Tuesday, clear at night,
• Sunny Wednesday AM, partly cloudy in the afternoon, then mostly clear and cold at night,
• highs 46-38 lows near 30.
• Mostly sunny Thursday (New Year’s Day), partly cloudy patchy fog at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday, just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday, then just mostly cloudy Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 47-45 warming to near 50 Sunday lows 34-42. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with snow showers today (1-4 in. of snow possible), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers this evening, clear and much colder late tonight with wind chill temperatures as low as -15 degrees,
• Sunny, breezy (Wind: E 15-25 mph) and cold Tuesday, clear and cold Tuesday night with wind chill temperatures as low as -15 degrees,
• Mostly sunny Wednesday, then clear at night.
• snow level at the surface today and tonight, free air freezing level at the surface Tuesday through Wednesday night.
• highs 24-15 lows 3-19.
• Mostly sunny Thursday (New Year’s Day), partly cloudy at night,
• Mostly sunny Friday, clouds increasing to mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday through Sunday.
• free air freezing level 7,500 ft. Thursday, 7,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday, snow level 5,000 ft. Friday night and Saturday, 5,500 ft. Saturday night, then 5,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 33-36 lows 25-30.

________________

**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.

________________