Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is “Active Conservation Storage?” Here is the correct answer. Active Conservation Storage: In hydrologic terms, the portion of water stored in a reservoir that can be released for all useful purposes such as municipal water supply, power, irrigation, recreation, fish, wildlife, etc. Conservation storage is the volume of water stored between the inactive pool elevation and flood control stage. 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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An upper level high pressure ridge will dry us out for 24 to 36 hours, but that also means colder temperatures with possible freezing fog. 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 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 10 in theGood category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 27 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• 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-

• Cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog this AM, mostly sunny this afternoon, partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog and possible isolated freezing fog late tonight,
• Cloudy with areas of AM fog and a good (50%) chance of rain, rain and bit warmer Sunday afternoon, showers likely (70%) Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of showers Monday AM, a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night.
• highs 36-43 lows 32-35 cooling back to near 32 Monday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, mostly cloudy Wednesday night,
• Then partly cloudy Thursday (New Year’s Eve) through Friday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 43-45 cooling back to near 43 Friday lows 35-30. (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:

• Partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog this AM, just partly cloudy this afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM freezing fog with rain and snow likely (70%),  a bit warmer with rain Sunday afternoon (snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 3,000 ft.), evening rain likely (70%), showers late Sunday night (snow level 2,500 ft.),
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, just mostly cloudy at night.
• highs 40-44 lows 32-36 cooling to 33 Monday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday, a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, mostly cloudy at night,
• Then just partly cloudy and a bit cooler Thursday (New Year’s Eve) through Friday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 42-44 cooling to 38 Friday lows 36-34. (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 areas of AM coastal fog and freezing fog while areas of freezing fog inland, just mostly cloudy this afternoon, partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, evening rain likely (70%), showers late Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, then just mostly cloudy at night.
• highs 48-50 lows 38-42 cooling back to 38 Monday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• Partly cloudy Thursday, partly cloudy with patchy fog Thursday night (New Year’s Eve),
• Then partly cloudy Friday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 48-55 lows 40-37. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer today, partly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow Sunday AM, snow likely (70%) in the afternoon, showers Sunday night,
• Cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%), a (40%) chance of snow showers and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Monday night.
• free air freezing level at the surface today, 4,000 ft. falling to the surface tonight, snow level at the surface Sunday, 3,000 ft. Sunday night, 2,500 ft. Monday, then at the surface Monday night.
• highs 28-32 lows 20-22 cooling to 18 Monday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow and a bit cooler Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain or snow Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, then just partly cloudy Wednesday night through Friday (New Year’s Day).
• snow level at the surface Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, 3,500 ft. Wednesday, free air freezing level 6,000 ft. Wednesday night, 7,500 ft. Thursday, then 9,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 29-37 lows 20-23.

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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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