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Check out my latest Eugene Daily News Weather Or Not Column It’s 363 Miles Long, But What Is It?

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

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No winner this week. Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is “Zero Datum?” Here is the correct answer. Zero Datum: In hydrologic terms, a reference “zero” elevation for a stream or river gage. This “zero” can be referenced (usually within ten feet of the bottom of the channel) to mean sea level, or to any other recognized datum. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you 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 level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) will be controlling our weather through the Easter weekend into next week. A frontal system moves its way through the area. The Full “Pink” Moon is at 5:06 AM  and there will be a total Lunar Eclipse that will be visible in the Pacific Northwest just before dawn (totality at 4:58 AM PDT). By the look of it there may be a break in the cloud cover allowing a view of the moon. Remember it is safe to look directly at the Lunar Eclipse since it is reflected light from the sun.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 53 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 81 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 48 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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:

• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated showers and a bit warmer this afternoon and evening (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers likely (70%), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Sunday (Easter) afternoon and evening (0.20 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday AM, a good (50%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late Monday night.
• highs 57-54 lows 36-40.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Just partly cloudy Wednesday through Thursday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun Friday.
• highs 59-65 lows 39-42. (seasonal averages high 59 low 39)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Trees: Moderate-  115

Grass: High- 0

Reading as of: 4/3/15

Data courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain this afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers this evening, showers likely (60%) late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Sunday  (0.15 in. of rain possible, small hail possible, snow level 2,500 ft. rising to 3,000 ft.), showers likely (70%) with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then rain and snow showers likely (70%) late Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, small hail possible),
• AM rain and snow showers likely (70%) Monday AM, rain and snow showers in the afternoon, showers likely (70%) Monday night.
• highs 58-52 lows near 38.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday, then just partly cloudy Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 56-66 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 60 low 41)

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

• Mostly cloudy in the AM at the shore and partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers rain this afternoon while a slight (20%) chance of rain in the afternoon inland (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), becoming cloudy with a (50%) chance of evening coastal showers and showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight while a slight (20%) chance of inland evening showers with showers likely (60%) and a slight (20%) chance of inland thunderstorms late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms with small hail Sunday (Easter) afternoon and evening (0.20 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, then showers likely (70%) late Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Showers Monday and Monday night.
• highs 57-59 cooling back to 57 Sunday night lows 40-43.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday, a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, partly cloudy Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday, mostly cloudy at night,
• Then partly cloudy Friday.
• highs 57-59 lows near 44. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit warmer today, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM snow showers likely (60%), snow showers a bit cooler and a slight (20%) of thunderstorms Sunday afternoon (Easter), cloudy with snow showers likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM snow showers, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Monday night.
• snow level 3,000 ft. today,  3,500 ft. tonight, 3,000 ft. Sunday, 2,500 ft. Sunday night and Monday, then 3,500 ft. Monday night.
• highs 44-36 warming to 40 Monday lows 26-24 warming to 26 Monday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, just partly cloudy Wednesday night through Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy Friday.
• snow level 3,500 ft. Tuesday, 4,500 ft. Tuesday night and Wednesday, free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Wednesday night and Thursday, then 7,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 42-52 lows near 30.

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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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