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 moving through the Pacific Northwest. A frontal system pushed in bringing cooler air in behind its 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 opened 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 20 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 15 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 19 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MOHAWK RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, THE SIUSLAW NEAR MAPLETON, THE MARYS RIVER NEAR PHILOMATH, AND THE LUCKIEAMUTE RIVER NEAR SUVER.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT MYRTLE POINT IN COOS COUNTY, THE SOUTH FORK COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE IN COOS 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 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 (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph gusts to 35 mph late at night),
• AM rain, showers Sunday afternoon (0.30 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) at night (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Monday and breezy then rain at night.
• lows 38-43 highs 46-52.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain Tuesday, rain likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy rain and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• Rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday (Christmas Day).
• highs 49-42 lows 39-37. (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:

• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) this evening, showers late tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft. falling to 2,000 ft. late tonight),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday with a (40%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. in the afternoon), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, rain and snow showers likely (70%) late Saturday night (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,500 ft. falling to 2,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. falling to 2,500 ft. in the afternoon), showers likely (70%) Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Monday and Monday night.
• lows 39-47 highs 45-48.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Tuesday, evening rain, rain and snow late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Wednesday, evening rain, rain and snow late at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow likely (70%) Thursday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday (Christmas Day).
• highs 50-42 lows 39-35. (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 coastal showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms tonight while inland evening showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms inland late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft.), cloudy with evening coastal showers likely (70%) and showers late at night while a good (50%) chance of evening inland showers, showers likely (70%) late Saturday night (0.30 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph late at night),
• Coastal rain Sunday while AM inland rain, rain likely (70%) in the afternoon (0.35 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph decreasing W 10-15 mph in the afternoon), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening showers, then showers likely (70%) late at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Rain, possibly heavy at times, a bit warmer and windy Monday and Monday night.
• lows 42-50 highs 50-54.
•  Mostly cloudy with rain, possibly heavy at times, Tuesday, rain Tuesday night through Wednesday night,
• Rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers at night (Christmas Eve),
• Then cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday (Christmas Day).
• highs 53-48 lows 43-38. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers this evening, rain and showers and colder late tonight (0.25 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 (1-3 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: S 10-20 mph increasing to S 20-30 mph gusts to 45 mph late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow, showers and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph shifting to W 10-15 mph gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon), showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and snow Monday and breezy, then rain and snow, possibly heavy at times, Monday night.
• snow level 3,000 ft. tonight, 2,500 ft. Saturday, at the surface Saturday night, 3,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, 4,000 ft. Monday, then 5,000 ft. Monday night.
• lows 22-28 highs 33-30 warming to 35 Monday.
• Rain and snow Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with snow Wednesday through Thursday, cloudy with a (40%) of snow showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Friday (Christmas Day).
• snow level 4,500 ft. Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, then at the surface Wednesday through Friday.
• highs 37-30 lows 24-20.

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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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