Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is an “ Easterly Wave?” 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 is slowly migrating eastward away from the Pacific Northwest continuing our wet weather. A frontal system moved through Oregon bringing more rain and then cooler temperatures. There will be a short break from the rain Tuesday. Then it’s back to wet weather.  Another frontal system pushes in by the end of the week. Local skiers should be celebrating. The mountains have a lot of new snow so the chance of local ski slopes opening is growing. Mt. Ashland reports they are starting their season today, but with a delayed opening due to the roads still being plowed. Check their website for updates. No word from Willamette Pass or Hoodoo, but it is looking good.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 13 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 70 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 40 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM TODAY ABOVE 1,500 FT. FOR THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN 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.

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

• Mostly cloudy with showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible), partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of scattered showers this evening, just mostly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy Tuesday, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, a good (50%)  chance of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday, then rain Wednesday night.
• highs 43-45 lows near 33-39.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit warmer Thursday, rain Thursday night and Friday, rain likely (70%) at night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday through Sunday.
• highs 48-45 lows 44-35. (seasonal averages high 45 low 34)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN – Burning is allowed.

Oakridge: GREEN – Burning is allowed.

*Note: Pellet stoves may be used anytime if they produce no visible emissions.

Advisory Courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA).

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers today (0.20 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft. rising to 2,000 ft. this afternoon), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers this evening, patchy fog late tonight (snow level 2,000 ft.),
• Patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy Tuesday, patchy fog with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night (snow level 2,000 ft. late at night),
• Patchy AM fog, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Wednesday (snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 3,500 ft. in the afternoon), evening rain likely (70%), then rain late  Wednesday night.
• highs 42-44 lows 32-30 warming to 40 Wednesday.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and warmer Thursday through Friday, cloudy with rain likely (70%) Friday night,
• Cloudy a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow, a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon.
  highs 48-50 cooling to 46 Sunday lows 44-36. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

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

• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal showers while inland AM rain and snow showers (0.30 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 2,000 ft.), showers this afternoon, a (30%) chance of showers late tonight,
• Just mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal Tuesday, a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain while a slight (20%) chance of inland rain late Tuesday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain Wednesday, then rain and breezy Wednesday night.
• highs 48-52 lows 42-39 warming to 45 Wednesday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and breezy Thursday and Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with Friday, cloudy with rain likely (70%) and cooler Friday night,
• A good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 54-50 lows 49-42. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with snow showers today (1-3 in. of snow possible), evening snow showers, mostly cloudy with a good (20%) chance of snow showers late tonight (1 in. of snow possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun Tuesday, mostly cloudy a good (50%) chance of snow Tuesday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of snow Wednesday, then rain and snow Wednesday night.
• snow level at the surface today and tonight, free air freezing level at the surface Tuesday, then snow level 2,500 ft. Tuesday night, 3,000 ft. Wednesday, then 4,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 30-33 lows 17-27.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow and a bit warmer Thursday, rain Thursday night,
• Rain and breezy Friday, rain and snow likely (70%) Friday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow Sunday.
• snow level 5,500 ft. Thursday, 7,000 ft. Thursday night, 6,000 ft. Friday, 4,500 ft. Friday night, 3,500 ft. Saturday, then at the surface Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 36-30 lows 30-23.

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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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