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. One frontal system pushed in bringing cooler air in behind its cold front and now another warm front followed by a cold front is next in line. Local skiers are 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.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 13 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 30 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 62 in the Moderate 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 9 AM TODAY NEAR THE BEACHES AND HEADLANDS FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND UNTIL 8 AM TODAY FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PUDDING RIVER NEAR AURORA, AND THE TUALATIN RIVER AT FARMINGTON.
• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST, THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON, THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES FOOTHILLS, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, (NOT THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY), AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR  THE SOUTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE IN COOS COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ROGUE RIVER NEAR AGNESS, THE NORTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER NEAR MYRTLE POINT, THE SOUTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER AT MYRTLE POINT, ELK CREEK NEAR DRAIN, THE SOUTH UMPQUA RIVER AT TILLER, AND THE UMPQUA RIVER NEAR ELKTON.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM TODAY FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY 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 WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR 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 HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN 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.

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

• AM rain, showers this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) this evening, rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain, possibly heavy at times, Monday afternoon (1.00 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SE 10-15 mph shifting to S 15-25 mph gusts to 45 mph), rain at night and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph and gusty decreasing to S 10-15 mph),
• Then rain Tuesday and Tuesday night (0.75 in. of rain possible).
• highs 46-52 cooling to 48 Tuesday lows 40-43 cooling to 37 Tuesday night.
• Mostly cloudy rain and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• Rain likely (70%) Thursday, showers likely (70%) Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers (snow level 1,500 ft.) Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday.
• highs 44-40 warming back to 44 Friday lows 36-30. (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 AM rain and snow, rain likely (70%) this afternoon, (0.30 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 3,000 ft. this afternoon), a (30%) chance of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday with rain, possibly heavy at times, (0.75 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 3,000 ft.) and breezy in the afternoon (Wind: S 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph in the afternoon), rain, possibly heavy at times, in the evening, then rain Monday night (1.30 in. of rain possible) through Tuesday night.
• highs 47-49 lows 43-47 cooling to 38 Tuesday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and snow showers Wednesday, rain and snow at night and Thursday (a bit cooler), rain and snow showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), then just partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday.
• highs 46-42 lows 36-29. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

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

• Coastal rain today while AM inland rain and rain likely (70%) this afternoon (0.30 in. of rain possible) and windy at the shore (Wind: SW 20-30 mph shifting W 10-20 mph by late AM) breezy inland (Wind: SW 10-20 mph decreasing W 5-10 mph this afternoon), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening coastal showers and rain likely (70%) at night while a (40%) of inland showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Rain, possibly heavy at times, a bit warmer Monday (1.80 in. of rain possible) and very windy (Wind: S 15-20 mph increasing to S 30-45 mph in the afternoon at the shore while S 10-15 mph increasing to S 20-30 mph inland in the afternoon, rain Monday night (1.15 in. of rain possible), possibly heavy at times, in the evening and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph) ,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and breezy and a bit cooler Tuesday, then rain and cooler Tuesday night.
• highs 50-55 cooling to 52 Tuesday lows 47-50 cooling to 43 Tuesday night .
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, rain Wednesday night and Thursday, showers at night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Friday (Christmas Day), then just partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday.
• highs 49-46 warming to 50 Saturday lows 40-37. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with AM snow, rain and snow showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 3-7 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers this evening, snow likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in.. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Monday and windy (Wind: SW 5-15 mph increasing to S to SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph in the afternoon), rain, possibly heavy at times, Monday night and breezy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph, then SW 10-15 mph late at night),
• Rain and snow and breezy and a bit warmer Tuesday, then rain Tuesday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. today, 3,000 ft. tonight, 3,000 ft. rising to 4,000 ft. Monday, then 5,000 ft. Monday night, 4,500 ft. Tuesday, then 3,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• highs 32-37 lows 26-28 cooling back to 23 Tuesday night.
• Mostly cloudy with snow and a bit cooler Wednesday through Thursday, cloudy with  snow showers likely (70%) Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday night,
• Then just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday.
• snow level at the surface Wednesday through Friday night, then free air freezing level at the surface Saturday.
• highs 28-26 warming to 32 Saturday lows 22-16.

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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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