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 moved through enhancing 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 6 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 20 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 2 AM FRIDAY FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 10 AM FRIDAY FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND, CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 4 AM FRIDAY FOR  THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES; AND UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALSEA RIVER NEAR TIDEWATER, THE SIUSLAW NEAR MAPLETON, THE MARYS RIVER NEAR PHILOMATH, AND THE LUCKIEAMUTE RIVER NEAR SUVER.
• 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. THIS 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  THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
• 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:

• Rain, possibly heavy at times and a bit warmer today (1.00 in. of rain possible), evening showers, rain tonight (0.75 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: S 15-30 mph gusts to 45 mph decreasing to S 10-20 mph gusts to 30 mph late tonight),
• Mostly cloudy with showers Friday (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers and colder Friday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday and in the evening, then rain likely (70%) late Saturday night.
• highs 55-45 lows 47-38.
• Rain Sunday, showers likely (70%) at night,
• Rain Monday through Tuesday, rain likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• Then rain and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• highs 48-50 cooling to 47 Wednesday lows 40-42 cooling to 39 Tuesday night. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

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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:

• Rain today (0.75 in. of rain possible), rain and breezy tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Friday (0.35 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) late Friday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of evening showers, then a good (50%) chance of rain late Saturday night.
• highs 55-46 lows 47-37 Friday night warming to 40 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, showers Sunday night,
• Rain Monday through Tuesday night,
• Then showers Wednesday.
• highs 46-50 cooling back to 46 Wednesday lows 42-48 cooling back to 42 Tuesday night. (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 rain, possibly heavy at times, today (2.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph), rain tonight (1.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 25-35 mph at the shore while SW 15-25 mph inland),
• Coastal rain Friday AM with rain likely (70%) in the afternoon while rain inland (0.35 in. of rain possible), coastal showers likely (70%) with a slight chance of thunderstorms at night while inland showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms and a chance of inland showers late at night (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, evening showers likely (70%), then rain likely (70%)late Saturday night.
• highs 57-50 lows 50-43 warming to 46 Saturday night.
• Rain Sunday, showers at night,
• Rain and breezy Monday through Tuesday, rain Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with showers Wednesday.
• highs near 52 lows 47-52 cooling to 48 Tuesday night. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with AM rain or  snow, snow possibly heavy at times, rain this afternoon and a bit warmer (1.50 in. of rain possible, 2-6 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph), evening showers, rain late tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Friday AM, rain and snow showers in the afternoon, rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the evening, snow showers likely (70%) and colder Friday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon and evening, snow likely (70%) at night.
• snow level 6,000 ft. rising to 7,500 ft. this afternoon, 7,500 ft. falling to 6,500 ft. tonight, 5,000 ft. falling to 4,000 ft. Friday, 3,000 ft. Friday night, then at the surface Saturday and Saturday night.
• highs 38-32 lows 32-22.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Sunday through Tuesday night,
• Then snow Wednesday.
• snow level 3,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, 3,500 ft. Monday, 5,000 ft. Monday night, 4,500 ft. Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, then 2,500 ft Wednesday.
• highs 37-34 lows 25-27 cooling back to 25 Tuesday night.

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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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