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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column If You Don’t Like The Weather… Move!

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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 Named Bullwinkle.

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Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “parhelion?”  Here is the correct answer. A Parhelion is the scientific name for sun dogs. Either of two colored luminous spots that appear at roughly 22 degrees on both sides of the sun at the same elevation. They are caused by the refraction of sunlight passing through ice crystals. They are most commonly seen during winter in the middle latitudes and are exclusively associated with cirriform clouds. They are also known as mock suns. 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 air ridge of high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has taken over and keeping us dry, but it will allow a weak cold front moved in bringing just a slight chance of rain from overnight until very early this morning, but the clouds will linger in the South Willamette Valley this afternoon. Note: Mt. Ashland is open Thursdays through Mondays. Willamette Pass and Hoodoo are all still 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 56 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter at Amazon Park, Eugene. Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA).

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 64 in the Moderate 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: YELLOW – Burning is Cautioned Against.

(The use of Pellet stoves is always allowed.)

Advisory Courtesy of Lane Regional Protection Agency (LRAPA).

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Advisories:

• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MONDAY FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTH OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• 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. 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, partly cloudy this afternoon and evening (Valentine’s Day), mostly cloudy and colder with areas of fog late tonight and Sunday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, then mostly clear and colder Sunday night,
• Mostly sunny Monday (Presidents’ Day), then mostly clear at night.
• highs near 53-60 lows 36-40.
• Partly cloudy Tuesday, mostly clear with patchy fog at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with patchy AM fog, mostly sunny Wednesday afternoon, partly cloudy at night,
• Mostly cloudy Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 59-56 lows 42-44 cooling back to 42 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 51 low 35)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog this AM, partly cloudy this afternoon with patchy lingering fog early afternoon (Valentine’s Day), partly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog, sunny Sunday, mostly clear with patchy fog late at night,
• Patchy AM fog, sunny and warmer Monday (Presidents’ Day), then mostly clear Monday night.
• highs 57-65 lows near 40.
• Patchy AM fog, sunny Tuesday, mostly clear at night,
• Mostly sunny Wednesday, partly cloudy Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Friday.
• highs 62-60 lows near 44. (seasonal averages high 53 low 37)

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

• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog this AM (Valentine’s Day), partly cloudy this afternoon tonight,
• Sunny Sunday and Monday (Presidents’ Day), mostly clear both nights.
• highs 62-70 lows 43-53.
• Mostly sunny and a bit cooler Tuesday, mostly clear at night,
• Sunny Wednesday, partly cloudy Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of  showers at night,
• Then just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Friday.
• highs 62-56 warming to 60 Friday lows near 47. (seasonal averages high 53 low 40)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy this AM, a mix of clouds and sun this afternoon (Valentine’s Day), just partly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly sunny Sunday and Monday (Presidents’ Day), then mostly clear at night.
• free air freezing level 9,000 ft. today, 10,000 ft. tonight, 11,000 ft. Sunday through Monday, then 9,000 ft. Monday night.
• highs 50-52 lows 32-29.
• Mostly sunny Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly clear Tuesday night, partly cloudy Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Thursday, partly cloudy to mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Friday.
• free air freezing level 10,000 ft. Tuesday through Wednesday night, 7,000 ft. Thursday, snow level 6,000 ft. Thursday night, then 5,500 ft. Friday.
• highs 54-48 lows near 33.

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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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