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.

________________

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.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 10 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 52 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

________________

Advisories:

• A WINTER WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT 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, AND 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 TODAY ABOVE 2,500 FT. FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY BELOW 2,000 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 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.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible above 750 ft., snow level from 1,000 ft. to 500 ft. and back again), a good (50%) chance of showers with rain/snow mix possible  down to the valley floor (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 500 ft., No accumulation expected) tonight (Christmas Eve),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with areas of 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 afternoon, then partly cloudy Saturday night.
• highs 42-36 lows 32-26 warming to 28 Saturday night.
• Becoming mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday, cloudy with rain likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a  (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Then just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• highs 40-45 lows near 35. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

_____

Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN – Burning is allowed.

Oakridge:  YELLOW– Caution is Advised.

*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 AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), rain and snow showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible above 1,500 ft. while 1 in. of snow possible below 1,500 ft., 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, snow level 800 ft.) tonight (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 800 ft. rising to 1,500 ft.) Friday afternoon (Christmas Day), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers 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.
• highs 42-39 lows 32-29.
• 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 slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday, a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 42-45 lows 36-32. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with coastal showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms today 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 this afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.), evening coastal showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and showers likely (70%) late tonight while rain and snow (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.rising to 2,000 ft. late at night) showers likely (70%) inland tonight (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.
• highs 46-48 lows 38-33 warming back to 38 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Sunday and at night,
• A showers likely (70%) Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 48-52 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with snow showers today (2-6 in. of snow possible), cloudy with evening snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of snow showers (2-4 in. of snow possible) and cold late tonight (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of isolated evening snow flurries, becoming mostly clear 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.
• highs 24-29 lows 14-10 warming back to 22 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Sunday, cloudy with a good (50%) of snow 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 24-27.

________________

**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.

________________