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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column A Hobby That Will “Stick” With You.

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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 “LORAN” 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 level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) will be moving into the Pacific Northwest bringing rain with it. A frontal system moves in for some more precipitation. Note: Mt. Ashland is closed now waiting for more snow. They will open one last time this season on Saturday March 28th, snow or now snow, for their “Big Mountain Bash.” Willamette Pass and Hoodoo have officially announced that this ski season is over for both of them.

Spring began officially at 3:45 PM today with the Vernal Equinox. There was a total solar eclipse, but it wasn’t visible in the United States.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 20 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 29 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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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 rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday (0.10 in. of rain possible), partly cloudy and colder late Saturday night,
• Partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday AM, mostly cloudy with afternoon rain (0.20 in. of rain possible), showers Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Then mostly cloudy with rain Monday and Monday night.
• lows 46-40 warming to 45 Sunday cooling to 42 Monday night highs 62-55.
• Mostly cloudy with showers Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Thursday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 58-66 lows 43-40 warming to 45 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 57 low 38)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Trees: High-  303

Grass: Absent- 0

Reading as of: 3/19/15

Data courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this evening, rain late tonight (0.35 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Saturday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), just partly cloudy in the evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday AM, rain in the afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible), showers in the evening, showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late Sunday night (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Then showers Monday and Monday night.
• lows 47-42 warming to 45 Monday night highs 66-54.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy Wednesday, partly cloudy Wednesday night through Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 62-72 cooling to 66 Friday lows 45-42 warming to 46 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 58 low 40)

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain and a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this evening, rain late tonight (0.40 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), just partly cloudy Saturday night,
• Morning coastal rain likely (60%) while a good (50%) chance of inland AM rain, mostly cloudy with rain Sunday afternoon (0.30 in. of rain possible), coastal showers with a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms at night while evening showers inland and showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late Sunday night (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Then showers Monday and Monday night.
• lows near 48 highs 58-53.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Just mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, partly cloudy Wednesday night through Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 56-60 cooling to 58 Friday lows 50-47 warming to 52 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, just partly cloudy late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow in the AM, rain Sunday afternoon, rain and snow showers Sunday night,
• Then rain and snow Monday and Monday night.
• snow level 6,500 ft. tonight, 4,500 ft. Saturday, 5,000 ft. Saturday night, 5,500 ft. Sunday, 4,500 ft. Sunday night, 3,500 ft. Monday, then 4,000 ft. Monday night.
• lows 34-27 highs 46-48 cooling to near 40 Monday.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of increasing rain and snow showers Tuesday and at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Partly cloudy Thursday and Thursday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 4,500 ft. Tuesday night, 5,500 ft. Wednesday, 7,000 ft. Wednesday night, free air freezing level 9,000 ft.  Thursday and Thursday night, then snow level 8,000 ft. Friday.
• highs 40-50 lows 27-32.

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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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