Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “Active Conservation Storage?” 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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A broad upper level low is hovering over the Pacific Northwest. A frontal system has pushed through, but it wasn’t as strong as the one that hit us Monday. The next frontal system approaches the West Coast Sunday. Tuesday sees yet another frontal system headed for us. Local skiers are still celebrating. The mountains have a lot of new snow and Willamette Pass, Hoodoo and Mt. Ashland are all open, with night skiing starting today at Hoodoo. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 8 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 47 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 12 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 THROUGH 4 AM THURSDAY FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS, THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 7PM TONIGHT UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 2,000 FT. FOR JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 2,500 FT. FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A HIGH SURF WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST .
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY FOR THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST, AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 1,500 FT. FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 3,000 FT. FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, 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 HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PUDDING RIVER AT AURORA.
• A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR  THE SOUTH FORK OF THE 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 showers tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Thursday (0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 500-1,000 ft. No accumulation expected) Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 500-1,000 ft. No accumulation expected) Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late at night,
• Cloudy with areas of AM fog and freezing fog, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Saturday, then partly cloudy Saturday night.
• lows 35-26 warming to 28 Saturday night highs 42-36.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday, cloudy with rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• highs 40-42 lows near 35. (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 rain and snow showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms through late this evening, rain and snow late tonight (0.30 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible lower elevations and 3-4 in. of snow possible above 1,500 ft, snow level 600 ft.)
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), rain and snow showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 700 ft.), cloudy with evening rain and snow showers likely (70%) a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers late at night (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 700 ft.) Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 700 ft. rising to 1,500 ft.) Friday afternoon (Christmas Day), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of flurries in the evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late Friday night and Saturday AM, just partly cloudy in the afternoon and evening, then mostly cloudy Saturday night.
• lows 35-29 highs 42-39.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday, rain likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday, just mostly cloudy Tuesday night,
• Then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 42-45 lows 36-32. (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 (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening with rain and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight while inland evening showers with snow and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms tonight, rain late tonight (0.35 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with coastal showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday while inland AM showers likely (70%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms with inland showers and snow showers likely (70%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible), evening coastal showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and showers likely (70%) late at night while rain and snow (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.) showers likely (70%) inland Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers (snow level 1,500 ft. rising to 2,000 ft.) and a bit warmer Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy in the evening with a slight (20%) chance of scattered sprinkles and patchy fog and freezing fog late at night while patchy inland fog and freezing fog late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog and freezing fog, partly cloudy Saturday afternoon and evening, then mostly cloudy late Saturday night.
• lows 38-33 warming back to 38 Saturday night highs 46-48.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Sunday and at night,
• A good (50%) chance of showers Monday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday night,
• A (40%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Tuesday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• Then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 48-52 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with snow showers and cold tonight (3-5 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with snow showers Thursday (3 in. of snow possible), cloudy with evening snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of snow showers and cold late Thursday night (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated evening snow flurries, just partly cloudy Friday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Saturday, then partly cloudy at night.
• snow level at the surface tonight through Friday night, free air freezing level at the surface Saturday, then 4,000 ft. Saturday night.
• lows 22-10 warming back to 22 Saturday night highs 26-29.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Sunday, snow likely (70%) at night,
• A bit warmer with a (30%) chance of snow showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of snow Tuesday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• snow level 2,500 ft. Sunday through Monday, at the surface Monday night and Tuesday, 3,500 ft. Tuesday night, then free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 29-32 cooling to 30 Tuesday warming to 35 Tuesday night lows 254-27.

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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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