Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is an “ Easterly Wave?” Here is the correct answer. An Easterly Wave is a low level disturbance of tropical origins. Easterly waves can develop into tropical cyclones. However, tropical cyclone development is not required in order for these systems to produce significant amounts of rainfall. The easterly waves are primarily a summer phenomenon. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. 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 pushing in from the West continuing the flow of moisture to the Pacific Northwest. A frontal system pushes in bringing cooler air in behind the cold front. Local skiers should be celebrating. The mountains have a lot of new snow and Mt. Ashland has already started their season. Willamette Pass and Hoodoo open officially today 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 15 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 38 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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

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Advisories:

• 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 MOHAWK RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, THE SILETZ RIVER AT SILETZ, THE SANTIAM RIVER AT JEFFERSON,
• A FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT MYRTLE POINT IN COOS COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE IN COOS COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR ALL OF WESTERN OREGON AS FAR SOUTH AS FLORENCE AND COTTAGE GROVE.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST,AND  CENTRAL DOUGLAS 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 showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, showers likely (70%) and colder late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday (0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers in the evening, rain likely (70%) late Saturday night (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Rain and a bit warmer Sunday (0.30 in. of rain possible)and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph shifting SW 10-15 mph in afternoon, then rain likely (70%) at night.
• highs 48-45 warming back to 48 Sunday lows 37-40.
• Mostly cloudy with 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:

• Rain this AM, showers likely (70%) this afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft.), showers likely (70%) tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft. falling to 2,000 ft. late),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers, cloudy with evening, showers likely (70%) late Saturday night (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Sunday AM, rain in the afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 3,000 ft. in the afternoon), then showers likely (70%) Sunday night.
• highs 48-45 lows 37-42.
• 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 42 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:

• Mostly cloudy rain this AM, showers likely (70%) this afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible), coastal evening showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms and showers likely (70%) late tonight while inland showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a chance of inland showers late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), 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 (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Sunday (0.35 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening showers, then showers likely (70%) late at night.
• highs 52-50 warming back to 52 Sunday lows 40-46.
• Rain and breezy Monday through Tuesday, rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers Wednesday and at night,
• Then rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday.
• highs 53-47 lows 49-40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow this AM,  rain and showers likely (70%) this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible), showers likely (70%) and colder tonight (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 and evening, snow likely (70%) late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow and a bit warmer Sunday and Sunday night.
• snow level 5,000 ft. falling to 4,000 ft. today, 3,000 ft. tonight, at the surface Saturday and Saturday night, then 3,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night.
• highs 33-30 warming to 34 Sunday lows 22-25.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and snow Monday through Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with snow Wednesday and at night,
• Then cloudy and cooler with snow Thursday.
• snow level 3,000 ft. Monday, 5,000 ft. Monday night, 4,500 ft. Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, then at the surface Wednesday through 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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