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) is moving through oregon today 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 43 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 10 AM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS 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 THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES.
• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 7 AM THURSDAY  ABOVE 3,500 FT. FOR THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 10 AM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL NOON THURSDAY FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT MYRTLE POINT IN COOS COUNTY- FORECAST TO CREST 3 FT. ABOVE FLOOD STAGE  (AT JUST ABOVE 36 FT. THURSDAY EVENING.)
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE IN COOS COUNTY- JUST ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AND EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO FALL.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OREGON AS FAR SOUTH AS 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 AM showers, a good chance of rain this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain tonight (0.75 in. of rain possible),
• Rain, possibly heavy at times, and a bit warmer Thursday (1.00 in. of rain possible), rain Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible) and Friday (0.35 in. of rain possible), then showers likely (70%) Friday night.
• highs 44-56 cooling to 48 Friday lows 42-45 cooling to 39 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Friday, showers likely (70%) Friday night and Saturday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday through Monday, rain likely (70%) Monday night,
• Then rain and a bit warmer Tuesday.
• 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:

• Patchy AM fog, cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. rising to 3,500 ft. this afternoon), evening showers (snow level 3,500 ft), then rain tonight (0.65 in. of rain possible, 0.75 Thursday and 0.45 in. possible Thursday night, 0.30 in. of rain possible) through Friday night.
• highs 44-55 cooling to 50 Friday lows 43-47 cooling to near 38 Friday night.
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Saturday AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the afternoon, 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:

• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, rain likely (60%) this afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible), rain tonight (1.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Thursday (2.00 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph), rain Thursday night (1.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: S 15-20 mph increasing to S 20-30 mph gusts to 45 mph late at the shore while S 10-20(0.30 in. of rain possible), then showers likely (70%) at night.
• highs 52-56 cooling back to 52 Friday lows 48-50 cooling to 54 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, rain likely (70%), heavy at times, 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:

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible ft.), rain and snow (6-12 in. of snow possible, snow heavy at times late tonight) tonight,
• Rain and a bit warmer Thursday, heavy at times in the AM, and a bit warmer in the afternoon(2.0 in. of rain possible), rain and breezy (Wind: SW 10-15 mph increasing to SW 15-25 mph late at night) Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, rain and snow showers Friday afternoon and Friday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. today, 3,500 ft. tonight, 6,500 ft. Thursday, 7,500 ft. Thursday night, 6,000 ft. falling to 4,500 ft. Friday, then 3,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 33-37 lows 28-32 cooling to 25 Friday night.
• Snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Saturday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Sunday through Tuesday.
• snow level at the surface Saturday and Saturday night, 3,500 ft. Sunday, 3,000 ft. Sunday night, 4,000 ft. Monday, then 4,500 ft.  Monday night, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 33-35 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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