Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “Deep Percolation Loss?” 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 moved 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 open at Hoodoo. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 55 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 17 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  7 AM TODAY 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 TODAY 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 TODAY 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-

• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with showers likely (60%) this afternoon, (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers this evening, patchy fog late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog and and a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow (snow level 1,500 ft.), a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday afternoon, cloudy with evening rain likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain late Tuesday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a mix of clouds and sun with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late Wednesday night,
• highs 44-40 warming back to 44 Wednesday lows 32-34 cooling to near 32 Wednesday night.
• Patchy AM fog and freezing fog, mostly cloudy with patchy lingering fog Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late Thursday night (New Year’s Eve) and Friday AM, just mostly cloudy with areas of lingering fog in the afternoon (New Year’s Day) and again Saturday  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 with scattered rain and snow showers today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft.), a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow tonight (snow level 2,500 ft. in the evening),
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday afternoon, rain and snow likely (70%) late Tuesday night (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday afternoon in the afternoon (snow level 3,000 ft. falling to 2,500 ft.), partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late at night.
• highs 43-46 lows 32-37 cooling to 33 Wednesday night.
• 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 a (40%) chance of scattered showers today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of showers tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday (0.10 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 2,000 ft.), rain likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.35 in. of rain possible),
• A (30%) chance of rain Wednesday, partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with patchy fog late Wednesday night.
• highs 47-52 lows 36-40 cooling to 39 Wednesday night.
• 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.
• highs near 52 lows 36-34. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with snow showers (1 in. of snow possible) likely (70%), a (40%) chance of evening snow showers,  mostly cloudy and cold with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM snow, a (30%) chance of snow Tuesday afternoon, cold with snow likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of snow showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, then just partly cloudy Wednesday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. today, at the surface tonight through Wednesday, then free air freezing level at the surface Wednesday night.
• highs near 30 lows 14-20.
• Mostly sunny Thursday, mostly clear at night (New Year’s Eve),
• Partly cloudy Friday AM (New Year’s Eve), mostly sunny in the afternoon, partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, partly cloudy Saturday night,
• Partly cloudy Sunday AM, then mostly sunny in the afternoon.
• free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Thursday, 5,500 ft. Thursday night, 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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