Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “Latent Heat Flux?” 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) has slowly taken over. A frontal system is moving through the Pacific Northwest spreading the much-needed rain over the area. More disturbances will head our way including this frontal system that will push through next Monday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 29 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 6 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 27 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

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

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Advisories:

• 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. 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.

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

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• AM showers likely (70%) Thursday, a good (50%) chance of afternoon showers (0.25 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog, mostly sunny and warmer in the afternoon, and partly cloudy with patchy fog late at night both Friday and Saturday, then  just partly cloudy Saturday night.
• lows 54-46 warming to 49 Saturday night highs 69-79.
• Mostly sunny Sunday AM, partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday AM, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Monday afternoon through Tuesday AM, mostly sunny and a bit cooler in the afternoon, partly cloudy Tuesday night,
• Mostly sunny Wednesday AM, then partly cloudy and just a bit warmer in the afternoon.
• highs 80-73 warming to 75 Wednesday lows 53-44. (seasonal averages high 77 low 47)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with increasing showers this evening, rain late tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with increasing AM showers, showers likely (70%) and warmer Thursday afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, just partly cloudy late Thursday night and Friday AM, sunny and warmer in the afternoon, mostly clear Friday night,
• Sunny and warmer Saturday, then clear at night.
• lows 54-50 warming back to 54 Friday night highs 68-82.
• Sunday Sunday, clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Sunday night and Monday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon, partly cloudy late Monday night and Tuesday, mostly clear at night,
• Then mostly sunny Wednesday.
• highs 84-76 warming to 78 Wednesday lows 56-47. (seasonal averages high 79 low 51)

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

• Cloudy with increasing showers this evening, rain late tonight (0.40 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with increasing AM coastal showers and a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday afternoon while inland showers all day (0.15 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, partly cloudy inland at night, patchy fog late Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy fog Friday AM, partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Friday night,
• Sunny Saturday, then clear Saturday night.
• lows 55-52 warming to 54 Friday night highs 66-68.
• Sunny Sunday, mostly clear in the evening, mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday, mostly cloudy in the evening, partly cloudy and cooler late Monday night,
• Just partly cloudy and a bit cooler Tuesday, mostly clear at night,
• Then mostly sunny Wednesday.
• highs 67-65 lows 55-49. (seasonal averages high 65 low 50).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers this evening, rain late tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Showers and a bit warmer Thursday (0.50 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening,  just partly cloudy late Thursday night and Friday AM, mostly sunny and warmer Friday afternoon, mostly clear Friday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Saturday, then mostly clear at night.
• snow level 7,000 ft. tonight, 6,500 ft. Thursday, above 8,000 ft. Thursday night, free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Friday, then 12,000 ft. Friday night, 13,000 ft. Saturday, then 14,000 ft. Saturday night.
• lows 38-42 highs 53-69.
• Mostly sunny Sunday AM, partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with sun breaks and a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, just partly cloudy late Monday night and Tuesday AM, mostly sunny and warmer Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, partly cloudy Tuesday night.
• free air freezing level 14,000 ft. Sunday, snow level above 8,000 ft. Sunday night through Monday night, then free air freezing level 13,000 ft. Tuesday through Wednesday.
• highs 73-65 warming to 68 Wednesday lows near 42.

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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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