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 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).

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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 CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY, AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 4 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 2,000 FT. FOR JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS,
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM FRIDAY ABOVE 1,500 FT. FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL AND EARSTN LAKE COUNTY.
• A FROST ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM UNTIL 7 AM FRIDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT ABOVE 1,000 FT. FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, AND JACKSON 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.

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

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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).

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with increasing rain and snow showers this evening, scattered rain and snow showers (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 700 ft.) late tonight (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) 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), a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late Friday night and Saturday AM, just partly cloudy in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday afternoon, then rain likely (70%) Sunday night.
• lows 32-26 warming to 35 Sunday night highs 42-45.
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday, a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday and at night,
• Then just partly cloudy Thursday.
• highs 43-46 lows near 34. (seasonal averages high 48 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 and showers late tonight while rain and snow showers likely (70%) inland (0.15 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft. falling to 1,000 ft. late tonight) showers likely (70%) inland tonight (Christmas Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal showers likely (70%) while inland AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft.) and a bit warmer Friday (Christmas Day), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal evening showers and mostly cloudy late at night while with a slight (20%) chance of inland scattered evening showers and partly cloudy late at night, areas of fog and freezing fog late at Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM coastal fog and freezing fog while areas of freezing fog inland, just mostly cloudy Saturday afternoon, partly cloudy in the evening, mostly cloudy late Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday, then rain likely (70%) Sunday night.
• lows 36-30 warming to 40 Sunday night highs 46-50.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• A  slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday, a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• Then just partly cloudy Thursday.
• highs 50-52 lows 37-42. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• 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), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening snow showers, becoming mostly clear late Friday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Saturday, partly cloudy at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Sunday, then becoming cloudy with snow likely (70%) at night.
• snow level at the surface tonight through Friday evening, free air freezing level at the surface late Friday night through Sunday, then snow level 2,500 ft. Sunday night.
• lows 6-22 highs 25-29.
• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of snow showers Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Monday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of snow and a bit cooler Tuesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain or snow Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit warmer Thursday.
• snow level 2,500 ft. Monday, at the surface Monday night and Tuesday, 3,500 ft. Tuesday night, 4,000 ft. Wednesday, free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, then 6,500 ft. Thursday.
• highs 33-30 warming to 40 Wednesday lows 19-22.

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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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