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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column Losing A “Friend” Is Never Easy.

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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.

And my new feature article about Contractors Electric called Is The Ground Wire The White One Or The Black One?

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Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What does the acronym “USGS” stand for?  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) is moving away from us and that will allow an upper level low (shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) behind it to take over. A frontal system swoops down bringing the chance of showers for a short time. High pressure strengthens for the end of the week returning the dry weather.  Note: Mt. Ashland is open Thursdays through Mondays. Willamette Pass has officially announced that this ski season is over for them. Hoodoo is still closed for now and probably will also call the season over soon. They say they will be opening again when enough snow falls. Check their websites for conditions and any updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 43 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 73 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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Advisories: None at this time.

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

• Mostly cloudy with occasional rain today (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening rain, patchy fog and a (40%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Patchy AM fog, partly cloudy Thursday afternoon, partly cloudy and colder with patchy fog Thursday night with patchy fog late,
• Patchy AM fog, partly cloudy Friday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening sowers, a (30%) chance of rain Friday night.
• highs 60-67 lows 47-40 warming to near 50 Friday night.
• Cloudy with rain likely (70%) Saturday, rain at night and Sunday, mostly cloudy with a good (20%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• highs 63-59 warming to 63 Tuesday lows 48-39. (seasonal averages high 56 low 37)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Trees: High-  131

Grass: Absent- 0

Reading as of: 3/10/15

Data courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening  (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%),  a slight (20%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Thursday AM, sunny in the afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late at night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy Friday afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday night.
• highs 60-70 lows 47-44 warming to 50 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Saturday, rain Saturday night and Sunday, rain likely (70%)  at night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of Monday and Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• highs 65-58 warming to back to 65 Tuesday lows 52-42 warming to 45 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 57 low 39)

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

• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening (0.15 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight,
• Just mostly cloudy Thursday AM, sunny in the afternoon, mostly clear in the evening,  partly cloudy with patchy inland fog late Thursday night and Friday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon and Friday night with a slight (20%) chance of rain late.
• highs 58-62 lows 52- 4 warming back to 52.
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Saturday, rain Saturday night and Sunday, rain likely (70%) Sunday  night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday and Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• highs 60-53 warming back to 60 Tuesday lows 50-46 warming back to 50 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 54 low 41)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with occasional rain and cooler today (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening rain, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday AM, just partly cloudy at in the afternoon, mostly clear at night,
• Partly cloudy Friday, then becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday night.
• snow level 6,500 ft. today, 6,000 ft. tonight, 7,000 ft. Thursday, free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Thursday night, 12,000 ft. Friday, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Friday night.
• highs 46-60 lows 34-30 warming to 42 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Saturday, rain Saturday night and Sunday, rain likely (70%) at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Saturday and Saturday night, 7,500 ft. Sunday, 8,000 ft. Sunday night and Monday, above 8,000 ft. Monday night, then 8,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 55-46 warming to near 52 Tuesday lows 39-32.

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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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