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 54 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 35 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 39 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories: None At This Time.

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-

• Patchy AM fog, cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain today (0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening rain likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain late tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible) and patchy fog late,
• Patchy AM fog, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), partly cloudy in the evening, mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late Wednesday night and Thursday AM, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy lingering afternoon fog, then areas of fog and freezing fog late Thursday night (New Year’s Eve).
• highs 43-37 lows 33-23.
• Areas of AM fog and freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Friday (New Year’s Day), fog and freezing fog late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM and late night fog and freezing fog again Saturday through Monday.
• highs 36-38 lows 23-26. (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:

• Patchy AM fog and freezing fog with a slight (20%) chance of rain, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow this afternoon and evening (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.), rain and snow likely (70%) late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft. rising to 2,000 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, just mostly cloudy in the afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late at night and Thursday AM, mostly sunny and a bit cooler in the afternoon, mostly clear with areas of freezing fog Thursday night (New Year’s Eve).
• highs 45-37 lows 36-27.
• Areas of fog and freezing fog, mostly sunny and a bit cooler Friday (New Year’s Day) and Saturday, mostly clear with areas of fog and freezing fog  late Friday night and Saturday AM, mostly sunny in the afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog late Saturday night,
• Then partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog Sunday through Monday.
• highs 40-43 lows near 28. (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 patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal rain and rain likely (60%) this afternoon while a (30%) chance of inland rain (0.10 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 2,000 ft.), rain likely (60%) this evening, a (40%) chance of rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of AM rain, becoming partly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday afternoon, partly cloudy in the evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late Wednesday night and Thursday AM, mostly sunny and a bit cooler in the afternoon, then partly cloudy with areas of fog Thursday night (New Year’s Eve).
• highs 47-52 cooling to 49 Thursday lows 40-32.
• Partly cloudy with areas of fog Friday (New Year’s Day) and in the evening, areas of fog and freezing fog late Friday night,
• Partly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog Saturday AM, then partly cloudy with areas of fog Saturday night through Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM fog, then partly cloudy Monday afternoon.
• highs 50-48 warming back to 50 Monday lows 33-38. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow today, snow this evening, cold with snow showers likely (70%) tonight (1-2 in. of snow possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of isolated snow showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, partly cloudy and cold Wednesday night,
• Mostly sunny Thursday, then mostly clear at night (New Year’s Eve).
• snow level at the surface tonight through Wednesday, free air freezing level at the surface Wednesday night, 4,500 ft. Thursday, then 6,000 ft. Thursday night.
• highs 30-28 lows 18-11.
• Mostly sunny Friday (New Year’s Day), mostly clear Friday night,
• Mostly sunny Saturday and Sunday, partly cloudy at night,
• Then just partly cloudy Monday.
• free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Friday (New Year’s Day), 5,000 ft. Friday night and Saturday, 4,500 ft. Saturday night, at the surface Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night, then 4,500 ft. Monday.
• highs 28-32 lows 11-17.

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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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