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

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And don’t forget my latest feature story in the continuing series on service club organizations called This Moose Isn’t Called Bullwinkle.

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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.

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An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape mainly in blue arrows) is slowly moving to the east away from us. That will allow storms to start moving through Oregon. A frontal system, the first of many, is brought rain with it, but it moved through quickly enough to bring us some sunshine. 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.

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Air Quality Index: Eugene-Springfield:

The Air Quality Index is 14 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 43 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: 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)

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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.

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

• A mix of clouds and sun this afternoon, increasing clouds with a slight (20%) chance of rain late tonight,
• Cloudy with rain Saturday (0.50 in. of rain possible), and at night (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Sunday (0.65 in. of rain possible), then a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night.
• highs 52-54 lows 44-50 cooling to 45 Sunday night.
• Patchy fog, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), cloudy with areas of fog at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Tuesday, cloudy with areas of fog at night,
• Cloudy with patchy fog Wednesday, areas of fog Wednesday night,
• Then patchy AM fog and a mix of clouds and sun Thursday.
• highs 50-47 lows 40-35. (seasonal averages high 47 low 34).

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday (0.25 in. of rain possible Saturday, 0.35 in. of rain possible Saturday night) through Sunday, then a good (50%) chance of showers and colder Sunday night.
• highs near 58 lows 46-52 cooling to 40 Sunday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), mostly cloudy in the evening, clearing with patchy fog late Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM and late night fog Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Partly cloudy with areas of AM fog, mostly cloudy Wednesday afternoon and at night with areas of fog late at night,
• Areas of AM fog, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday.
• highs 52-48 warming back to 52 Wednesday and Thursday lows 38-34 warming back to 38 Thursday. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Mostly cloudy early then partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers this afternoon  (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, rain late tonight (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Saturday (0.75 in. of rain possible) and Saturday night (0.75 in. of rain possible), breezy (Wind: S 15-20 mph inland, gusts to 40 mph late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, rain likely (70%) in the afternoon, then mostly cloudy and colder with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night.
• highs near 58 lows 52-54 cooling to 44 Sunday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), partly cloudy in the evening, clearing with patchy fog late Monday night,
• Areas of AM and late night fog, mostly cloudy Tuesday through Wednesday, then areas of fog and mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night and Thursday.
• highs 54-57 lows 40-43. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers this AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible), rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Saturday, rain and breezy (Wind: S 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph late) Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday, then rain and snow showers likely (60%) Sunday night,
• snow level 4,500 ft. today, 6,500 ft. tonight, 8,000 ft. rising to above 8,000 ft. Saturday afternoon, 8,000 ft. Saturday night, 6,500 ft. Sunday, then 4,500 ft. Sunday night.
• highs 40-44 lows 32-39 cooling to 30 Sunday night.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), partly cloudy Monday night through Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Thursday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Monday, free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Monday night, 6,000 ft. Tuesday, 7,000 ft. Tuesday night, 8,000 ft. Wednesday, snow level 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, then 5,000 ft. Thursday.
• highs 40-44 lows 28-25 warming back to 28 Wednesday night.

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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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