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 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 WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALEY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM FRIDAY FOR THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE 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 THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OREGON AS FAR SOUTH AS PORT ORFORD AND CANYONVILLE.
• A URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9:30 PM TONIGHT FOR LINN COUNTY, EASTERN BENTON COUNTY, CENTRAL LANE COUNTY, EASTERN POLK COUNTY, CLACKAMAS COUNTY, MULTNOMA COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND MARION 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:

• Rain, possibly heavy at times tonight (1.00 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 (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers in the evening, rain likely (70%) late Saturday night,
• Rain and a bit warmer Sunday, then rain likely (70%) at night.
• lows 46-37 warming back to 40 Sunday night highs 48-45 warming back to 48 Sunday.
• Rain Monday through Tuesday night,
• Then rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Wednesday through Thursday.
• highs 52-44 lows 43-38. (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:

• Cloudy with rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph),
• Rain Friday AM, showers likely (70%) in the afternoon (0.35 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.), showers likely (70%) Friday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers, cloudy with showers likely (70%) late Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday AM, rain in the afternoon, then showers likely (70%) Sunday night.
• lows 47-37 warming to 42 Sunday night highs 48-45.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Monday through Tuesday night,
• Showers Wednesday and in the evening, rain and snow showers late at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (70%) Thursday.
• highs 47-50 cooling back to 43 Thursday lows 47-37. (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,  tonight (1.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 25-35 mph at the shore while SW 15-25 mph inland),
• Mostly cloudy rain Friday AM, showers likely (70%) in the afternoon, coastal evening showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms and a slight (20%) chance of showers late at night while inland showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of 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, cloudy with evening coastal showers likely (70%) and showers late at night while a good (50%) chance of evening inland showers, then showers likely (70%) late Saturday night,
• Rain Sunday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening showers, then showers likely (70%) late at night.
• lows 49-40 warming to 46 Sunday night highs 52-50 warming back to 52 Sunday.
• Rain and breezy Monday through Tuesday, rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers Wednesday and at night,
• Then rain likely (70%) Thursday.
• highs 53-49 lows 49-40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with rain tonight (1.00 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 55 mph),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Friday AM,  showers in the afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 3-6 in. of snow possible), showers likely (70%) and colder Friday night (0.10 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, a good (50%) chance of evening showers, snow likely (70%) late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain or snow and a bit warmer Sunday and Sunday night.
• snow level 6,500 ft. tonight, 5,000 ft. falling to 4,000 ft. Friday, 2,500 ft. Friday night, at the surface Saturday, 2,500 ft. Saturday night, then 3,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night.
• lows 32-20 warming to 25 Sunday night highs 32-37.
• Mostly cloudy with rain or snow Monday through Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with snow Wednesday and at night,
• Then cloudy with snow Thursday.
• 3,000 ft. Monday, 5,000 ft. Monday night, 4,500 ft. Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, then 2,500 ft Wednesday, then at the surface Wednesday night and Thursday.
• highs 37-30 lows 28-22.

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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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