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. It’s back to wet weather by Wednesday.  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 more local ski slopes opening is now certain. Mt. Ashland started their season Monday. Willamette Pass reports tentative opening date this Friday December 18th. Hoodoo reports their opening date will also be Friday December 18th with night skiing starting Monday December 21st. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 36 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 18 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES (NOT FOR THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY).
• 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 patchy fog this AM, peeks of sun with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon rain, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, a (40%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of  rain Wednesday AM. rain likely (70%) in the afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), then rain Wednesday night (0.60 in. of rain possible) through Thursday night.
• highs 43-52 lows 35-45.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday night and Saturday, a (40%) chance of showers  Saturday night,
• Then rain likely (60%) Sunday, then showers likely (70%) Monday.
• highs 48-45 lows 38-35 warming back to 38 Sunday night. (seasonal averages high 45 low 34)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: YELLOW – Caution is advised.

Oakridge:  YELLOW – Caution is advised.

*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:

• Patchy AM fog, just mostly cloudy today, patchy fog with a slight (20%) chance of rain tonight (snow level 2,500 ft. late tonight),
• Patchy AM fog, cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. in the afternoon), rain Wednesday night through Thursday night.
• highs 44-52 lows 36-46.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday and Friday night,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain, a (30%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain Sunday and Monday, showers Sunday night.
• highs 50-45 warming to 48 Monday lows 40-36 warming to 42 Sunday night. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

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

• Mostly cloudy today, a slight (20%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal rain Wednesday with rain likely (60%) in the afternoon while a good (50%) chance of inland rain (0.20 in. of rain possible), rain, possibly heavy late at night) Wednesday night (1.50 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 10-15 mph shifting to SW 15-25 mph late at night at the shore while S 10-15 mph inland),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Thursday,then rain Thursday night.
• highs 50-56 lows 42-50.
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with rain likely (60%) Friday, rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Then rain Sunday and Monday, showers Sunday night.
• highs 53-50 lows 43-46. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun today, becoming mostly cloudy a good (50%) chance of snow tonight,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of afternoon snow (0.25 in. of rain possible), rain and snow (snow heavy at times late at night) Wednesday night and Thursday AM, then rain in the afternoon and Thursday night.
• free air freezing level at the surface today, then snow level 2,500 ft. tonight, 3,000 ft. Wednesday, 3,500 ft. Wednesday night, 5,500 ft. rising to 6,500 ft. Thursday, then 7,000 ft. Thursday night.
• highs 29-37 lows 19-32.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday, rain and snow showers Friday night,
• Rain and snow showers likely (60%) and a bit cooler Saturday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with snow Sunday, then rain and snow showers Sunday night and Monday.
• snow level 6,000 ft. Friday, 4,500 ft. Friday night, 3,000 ft. Saturday, at the surface Saturday night, 3,000 ft. Sunday, then 4,000 ft. Sunday night and Monday.
• highs 37-30 lows 25-23.

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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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