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 17 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM UNTIL 2 PM MONDAY FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PUDDING RIVER NEAR AURORA, AND THE TUALATIN RIVER AT FARMINGTON.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THROUGH 2 PM MONDAY FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST,
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM THROUGH 2 PM MONDAY FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST,
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THROUGH 4 PM MONDAY  FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THROUGH 4 PM MONDAY FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA,  THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THROUGH 4 PM MONDAY FOR THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THROUGH 7 PM MONDAY FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• 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:

• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) this evening, rain late tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Monday AM, showers in the afternoon (0.75 in. of rain possible) and very windy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50-60 mph), showers Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-20 mph and gusts to 30 mph decreasing to S 5-10 mph late at night),
• AM showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Tuesday (0.25 in. of rain possible), rain in the afternoon and evening, showers late Tuesday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy rain and a bit cooler Wednesday, then rain likely (70%) Wednesday night.
• lows 40-43 cooling to 35 Wednesday night highs 52-44.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers (snow level 1,500 ft.) Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs 40-47 lows 33-36. (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 a good (50%) chance of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.),
• Rain and a bit warmer Monday (0.75 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 3,500 ft.) and windy (Wind: S 20-30 mph gusts to 45 mph shifting to SW 10-20 mph in the afternoon), rain Monday night, possibly heavy at times, in the evening (0.45 in. of rain possible),
• AM rain Tuesday, showers in the afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible) and Tuesday night (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 2,500 ft. late at night,
• Then rain and snow and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• lows 42-44 cooling to 40 Wednesday night highs 52-45.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow Thursday, rain and snow showers Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• Partly cloudy Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs 40-44 lows 30-33. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

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

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening coastal showers and showers likely (70%) late at night while a good (50%) of inland showers tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Rain, possibly heavy at times, a bit warmer Monday (1.20 in. of rain possible) and windy (Wind: SW 25-40 mph shifting to W 20-30 mph in the afternoon at the shore while SW 20-30 mph inland decreasing to SW 10-20 mph in the afternoon, rain Monday night (0.40 in. of rain possible), possibly heavy at times, in the evening,
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, showers (0.20 in. of rain possible) and a bit cooler Tuesday and in the evening, showers likely (70%) and cooler late Tuesday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: W 15-20 mph),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• lows 45-42 highs 56-50.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit cooler Thursday, showers at night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Friday night and Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Saturday night, then a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs 44-48 lows 33-37. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers this evening, snow likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow, rain and snow showers and a bit warmer Monday afternoon (1.00 in. of rain possible, 6-12 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 50 mph in the afternoon), rain and snow showers Monday night (0.75 in. of rain possible, 4-8 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph, then SW 10-15 mph late at night),
• AM rain and snow showers, rain and snow and a bit warmer Tuesday afternoon and evening, snow showers late Tuesday night and breezy (Wind: Wind: W 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph),
• Cloudy with snow and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. tonight, 3,000 ft. rising to 4,000 ft. Monday, 3,000 ft. Monday night through Tuesday evening, then at the surface late Tuesday night through Wednesday night.
• lows 26-29 cooling to 20 Wednesday night highs 34-37 cooling to 28 Wednesday night.
• Cloudy with snow showers and a bit cooler Thursday, snow showers likely (70%) Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Friday night,
• Just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Saturday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Sunday.
• snow level at the surface Thursday through Friday night, free air freezing level at the surface Saturday, snow level 4,000 ft. Saturday night, then 5,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 24-34 lows 18-25.

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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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