Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is the “water equivalent?” 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 low (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) is located off the British Columbia coast. It will continue to rotate marine air toward us which will keep the temperatures fairly steady. The low will approach the Pacific Northwest and send disturbances our way by the end of the week bringing the chance of some much needed showers with it.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 38 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 62 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 43 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA).

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Advisories:

• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR CROOK, DESCHUTES, GILLIAM, GRANT, JEFFERSON, MONROE, SHERMAN, UMATILLA, UNION, WILLOWA, WASCO, WHEELER, BENTON AND COLUMBIA COUNTIES IN OREGON.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR SUNSET BAY STATE PARK BEACH LOCATED IN COOS COUNTY FOR HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL FECAL BACTERIA WHICH CAN RESULT IN DIARRHEA, STOMACH CRAMPS, SKIN RASHES, UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND OTHER ILLNESSES. DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WATER – ESPECIALLY BY CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, WHO MAY BE VULNERABLE TO WATERBORNE BACTERIA – SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN THIS AREA UNTIL THE ADVISORY IS LIFTED. VISITORS SHOULD AVOID WADING IN NEARBY CREEKS, POOLS OF WATER ON THE BEACH, OR IN DISCOLORED WATER AND STAY CLEAR OF WATER RUNOFF FLOWING INTO THE OCEAN.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR UPPER KLAMATH LAKE AND AGENCY LAKE DOWN TO KENO DAM, LOCATED JUST NORTH OF KLAMATH FALLS ALONG HIGHWAY 97 IN KLAMATH COUNTY. THE SECTION FROM THE KENO DAM TO THE CALIFORNIA BORDER HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR USE. WATER MONITORING BY THE USGS HAS CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TOXINS WHICH CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. SWALLOWING, INHALING OR SKIN CONTACT WITH WATER DROPLETS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
• A HEALTH ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR SEAL ROCK STATE PARK BEACH FOR HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL FECAL BACTERIA WHICH CAN RESULT IN DIARRHEA, STOMACH CRAMPS, SKIN RASHES, UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND OTHER ILLNESSES. DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WATER – ESPECIALLY BY CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, WHO MAY BE VULNERABLE TO WATERBORNE BACTERIA  – SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN THIS AREA UNTIL THE ADVISORY IS LIFTED. VISITORS  SHOULD AVOID WADING IN NEARBY CREEKS, POOLS OF WATER ON THE BEACH, OR IN DISCOLORED WATER AND STAY CLEAR OF WATER RUNOFF FLOWING INTO THE OCEAN.

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

• Mostly clear tonight,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Wednesday, partly cloudy at night through Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with slight (20%) chance of rain Friday afternoon, then rain likely (60%) Friday night.
• lows 52-58 highs 88-79.
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain likely (70%), a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday afternoon and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday AM, a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer in the afternoon, a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM showers, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday afternoon and evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 73-75 lows 57-53. (seasonal averages high 82 low 50)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly clear tonight,
• Sunny Wednesday, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy in the AM, partly cloudy with areas of smoke Thursday afternoon evening, mostly cloudy at night,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain Friday afternoon and evening, rain likely (60%) late Friday night.
• lows 57-59 highs 88-86.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Saturday AM, showers likely (60%) in the afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of rain late Saturday night,
• A (30%) chance of showers Sunday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon and Tuesday AM, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday afternoon.
• highs 82-85 cooling to 83 Monday and Tuesday lows 58-55. (seasonal averages high 83 low 55)

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

• Mostly clear with patchy coastal fog late tonight,
• AM coastal clouds and fog and sunny Wednesday afternoon while sunny inland in the afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, mostly cloudy with  patchy fog late Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, partly cloudy Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain Thursday night,
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Friday, then rain likely (70%) at night.
• lows 54-56 highs 65-67.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Saturday AM, a good (50%) chance of showers in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Saturday night and Sunday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night through Tuesday.
• highs near 67-63 lows 56-54. (seasonal averages high 66 low 53).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening, just partly cloudy late tonight,
• Mostly sunny with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, just partly cloudy late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, just partly cloudy late Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Friday afternoon and at night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. tonight through Friday night.
• lows 48-45 highs 77-67.
• Mostly cloudy, breezy and cooler Saturday with AM rain likely (70%), a mix of clouds and sun with a good (50%) chance of showers in the afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of rain late Saturday night and Sunday AM, a good (50%) chance of showers in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of AM showers, a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Monday night and Tuesday AM, then a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday afternoon.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Saturday through Tuesday.
• highs 64-66 cooling to 59 Monday warming to 63 Tuesday lows 45-43.

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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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