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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Another upper level low is headed toward the Pacific Northwest returning the wet weather.  A frontal system (shown to the northwest) will slide in Wednesday increasing the rain chances. Yet 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 and Hoodoo report their opening date will be Friday December 18th with night skiing starting Monday December 21st at Hoodoo. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 7 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 16 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 WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE ( EAST OF MULTNOMAH FALLS), 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 AND THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT UNTIL UNTIL LATE FRIDAT NIGHT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OREGON SOUTH TO PORT ORFORD AND CANYONVILLE.
• 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:

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain 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), rain Wednesday night (0.75 in. of rain possible),
• Rain, possibly heavy at times, and a bit warmer Thursday (0.85 in. of rain possible), rain Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible) and Friday, then showers likely (70%) Friday night.
• lows 35-45 cooling to 39 Friday night highs 44-52 cooling to 48 Friday.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday, showers likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers Monday, then showers likely (70%) Monday night and Tuesday (a bit warmer).
• highs 46-44 warming to 47 Tuesday lows 37-40. (seasonal averages high 45 low 34)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN – Burning is allowed.

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:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers this evening, 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 3,500 ft. in the afternoon), evening showers, then rain late Wednesday night (0.65 in. of rain possible, 0.85 Thursday and 0.45 in. possible Thursday night) through Friday night.
• lows 38-47 cooling to near 40 Friday night highs 47-52 cooling to 50 Friday.
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Saturday AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain, a (30%) chance of rain and snow late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday through Monday, rain likely (60%) Monday night,
• Then rain continues Tuesday.
• highs 45-50 lows 39-45. (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 a slight (20%) chance of showers this evening, 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), evening showers, rain, possibly heavy at times, late 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 (2.45 in. of rain possible), rain Thursday night (1.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 10-20 mph increasing to S 20-30 mph late at the shore while S 10-20 mph inland),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain likely (60%) Friday, then rain at night.
• lows 42-50 cooling to 54 Friday night highs 52-56 cooling back to 52 Friday.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday through Monday, rain likely (70%) Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain Tuesday.
• highs 49-52 lows 45-48. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• 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 ft.), rain and snow (snow heavy at times late at night) Wednesday night and Thursday AM, rain and a bit warmer in the afternoon, rain and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph) Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Friday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) Friday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. tonight, 3,000 ft. Wednesday, 3,500 ft. Wednesday night, 5,000 ft. rising to 6,500 ft. Thursday, 7,500 ft. Thursday night, 5,500 ft. Friday, then 3,500 ft. Friday night.
• lows 19-32 highs 33-37.
• Snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of snow at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Sunday, then rain and snow showers Sunday night through Tuesday.
• snow level 2,500 ft. Saturday, at the surface Saturday night, 3,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, 3,500 ft. Monday, then 3,000 ft.  Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 32-30 lows 23-26.

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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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