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 low (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) will be keeping us in clouds and showers until Wednesday. A surface frontal system is moving through the Pacific Northwest increasing the chance of precipitation. Upper air high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows – on first graphic) takes over mid week clearing the skies for some drying time. 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 also opened 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 16 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE,  THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY ABOVE 2,000 FT. FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN 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-

• Cloudy with evening showers likely (70%), a (40%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of showers Monday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, patchy fog late Monday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,000 ft.), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, then just mostly cloudy Wednesday night.
• lows 34-30 warming back to 34 Tuesday night cooling to near 32 Wednesday night highs 44-40 warming back to 44 Wednesday.
• Patchy AM fog Thursday, a mix of clouds and sun and just a bit cooler in the afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog late Thursday night (New Year’s Eve) and Friday (New Year’s Day) and Saturday, mostly cloudy with areas of fog Thursday night, partly cloudy with areas of fog Friday night, then mostly cloudy with patchy fog Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 40-38 lows near 27. (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 rain and snow showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 2,500 ft. late tonight),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. rising to 2,500 ft. late in the afternoon), a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night (snow level 2,500 ft. in the evening),
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of rain in the evening, rain and snow likely (70%) late Tuesday night (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy  with AM rain and snow likely (70%), a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late at night.
• lows 35-32 warming to 37 Tuesday night cooling to 33 Wednesday night highs 43-46.
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog and freezing fog Thursday, sunny and a bit cooler in the afternoon,  mostly clear with patchy freezing fog at night (New Year’s Eve),
• Mostly clear with patchy AM fog and freezing fog, mostly sunny and a bit cooler Friday afternoon (New Year’s Day), mostly clear with patchy fog and freezing fog at night and Saturday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon and Sunday, mostly clear with areas of fog and freezing fog Saturday night.
• highs near 42 lows 29-32. (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 with showers likely (70%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight while inland showers this evening and showers likely (70%) late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Monday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, a slight (20%) chance of rain late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday (0.10 in. of rain possible), a (30%) chance of evening, rain likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.35 in. of rain possible) and Wednesday AM, a (40%) chance of showers and a bit warmer in the afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then mostly cloudy with patchy fog late Wednesday night.
• lows 39-36 warming to 40 Tuesday night cooling to 39 Wednesday night highs 47-52.
• Mostly cloudy with with patchy fog Thursday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog Thursday night (New Year’s Eve) and Friday AM, partly cloudy Friday afternoon (New Year’s Day) and evening, areas of fog and freezing fog Friday night,
• Partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog Saturday AM, then partly cloudy with areas of fog Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
• highs near 52 lows 36-34. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly Cloudy with rain and snow likely this evening, snow showers likely (70%) tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Monday afternoon, mostly cloudy and cold with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy Tuesday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow Tuesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday night.
• snow level 3,000 ft. this evening, 2,500 ft. Monday, at the surface Tuesday, free air freezing level at the surface Tuesday night, snow level at the surface Wednesday, then 3,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• lows 22-14 warming to 20 Wednesday night highs 29-32.
• Then partly cloudy Thursday through Sunday.
• free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Thursday, 5,500 ft. Thursday night, then 6,500 ft. Friday (New Year’s Day) through Saturday, 7,500 ft. Saturday night, then 8,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs near 30 lows 10-15.

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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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