______________

Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column No, We Didn’t Have To Use The “D” Word In 2014.

_____

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 a “ hodograph?” 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 mainly in blue arrows) is strengthening and will keep the showers away until mid to late-week. A frontal system will head into Oregon Friday bringing rain with it. Skiers note – Hoodoo, Willamette Pass, and Mt. Ashland are all closed for now. They say they will be opening again when enough snow falls. Check their websites for conditions and specific schedules.

________________

Air Quality Index: Eugene-Springfield:

The Air Quality Index is 52 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 6 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: GREEN – Burning is Allowed.

Oakridge: GREEN – Burning is Allowed.

(The use of Pellet stoves is always allowed.)

Advisory Courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

________________

Advisories:

• 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:

• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog this AM, patchy lingering afternoon fog, mostly cloudy with patchy evening fog, areas of fog late tonight,
• Cloudy with patchy AM fog, a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (60%), rain, possibly heavy at times, late at night (0.85 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday AM, a slight (20%) chance of evening rain (0.15 in. of rain possible), then rain likely (70%) late Friday night.
• highs 46-52 lows 32-43.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday and Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night and Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), a (40%) chance of showers at night,
• Then cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• highs 54-47 lows 45-34. (seasonal averages high 47 low 34).

_________________

Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog, sunny with patchy fog this afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog this evening, mostly cloudy with areas of fog late tonight,
• Areas of fog Thursday AM, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain in the afternoon and evening (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of evening rain, cloudy with rain likely (60%) late Thursday night (0.35 in. of rain possible),
• Then cloudy with rain Friday and Friday night.
• highs near 54 lows 38-47.
• Rain Saturday through Sunday, mostly cloudy and colder with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 56-49 lows 52-34. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

________________

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

• Sunny today with areas of AM inland fog, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of  rain Thursday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%),  rain late Thursday night (0.60 in. of rain possible),
• Then cloudy with rain Friday and Friday night.
• highs 57-55 lows 47-52.
• Rain Saturday through Sunday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and colder Sunday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 56-52 lows near 54-43. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40)

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny today, partly cloudy at night,
• Cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday AM, a good (50%) chance of afternoon rain, rain and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph) Thursday night and Friday, a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, then a good (50%) chance of rain late Friday night.
• free air freezing level 11,000 ft. today, 9,000 ft. falling to 8,000 ft. tonight, snow level 5,500 ft. rising to 6,500 ft. Thursday afternoon, 7,000 ft. Thursday night, 5,000 ft. Friday, then 7,000 ft. Friday night.
• highs 42-40 lows 30-36.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday and at night,
• Rain Sunday, a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• snow level 8,000 ft. Saturday, 7,500 ft. Saturday night, 6,500 ft. Sunday, 4,500 ft. Sunday night, 4,000 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night, then 4,500 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 46-38 lows 34-27.

________________

**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.

________________