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.

________________

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 Willamette Pass, Hoodoo and Mt. Ashland are all open, with night skiing starting Monday December 21st at Hoodoo. Check their websites for updates.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 16 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 18 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

________________

Advisories:

• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING NEAR THE BEACHES AND HEADLANDS FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE CURRY COUNTY COAST,
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MOHAWK RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, THE SIUSLAW NEAR MAPLETON, THE MARYS RIVER NEAR PHILOMATH,  THE PUDDING RIVER NEAR AURORA, THE TUALATIN RIVER AT FARMINGTON, AND THE LUCKIEAMUTE RIVER NEAR SUVER.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR  THE SOUTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE IN COOS COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 4 PM SUNDAY ABOVE 2,000 FT. FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN, AND WESTERN LAKE 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.

________________

Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy with some sun breaks and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• AM rain, showers Sunday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) in the evening, rain at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Monday, then rain at night.
• highs 46-52 lows 39-43.
• 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 rain and snow showers (snow level 1,000 ft.) Friday (Christmas Day). Don’t expect a White Christmas though.
• highs 49-42 lows 39-37. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

_____

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).

___________________

Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM showers, partly cloudy and a bit cooler this afternoon with a (30%) chance of showers this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft.), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, rain and snow late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,500 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow, a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday afternoon, (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 3,000 ft. in the afternoon), a (30%) chance of showers 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, and breezy (Wind: S 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph in the afternoon) Monday afternoon and Monday night.
• highs 45-48 lows 39-47.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Tuesday, evening rain, rain Tuesday night through Wednesday evening, rain and snow late at night,
• 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)

________________

Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening coastal showers likely (70%) and showers late tonight while a good (50%) chance of evening inland showers, showers likely (70%) late tonight (0.30 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph increasing to S 25-40 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 5-10 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, rain and breezy Monday night.
• highs 50-54 lows 44-50.
•  Mostly cloudy with rain, possibly heavy at times, and breezy 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).

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%), a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of snow showers this afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of  evening snow, snow likely (70%) late tonight (2 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM snow, rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon (2-5 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers in the evening, snow likely (70%) late 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. today, at the surface tonight, 2,500 ft. Sunday, 3,000 ft. Sunday night, 3,000 ft. rising to 4,000 ft. Monday, then 5,000 ft. Monday night.
• highs 32-35 lows 23-28.
• 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.

________________

**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.

________________

Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at eugenedailynews.com.

________________