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)  kept us in clouds and showers, but now that’s changing. A surface frontal system slid southward along the Oregon/California coasts taking the rain with it. An upper level blocking high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) takes over clearing the skies for some drying time, but also colder temperatures. Eugene stayed in the clouds as it took longer than expected for the clouds to be scooped out the South Willamette Valley. Local skiers continue to rejoice. The mountains have a lot of new snow and Willamette Pass, Hoodoo and Mt. Ashland are all open. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 58 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 61 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 37 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM MONDAY FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
• A WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 7 AM FRIDAY FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A WIND CHILL WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM SATURDAY FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.

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

• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog this AM, sunny and a bit cooler with patchy lingering afternoon fog, mostly cloudy areas of fog and freezing fog late tonight (New Year’s Eve),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog in the AM and becoming sunny Friday afternoon (New Year’s Day), partly cloudy in the evening and mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog Friday night East of I-5 while mostly cloudy and cold with patchy fog and freezing fog late at night,
• AM clouds and sun and mostly sunny Saturday afternoon East of I-5 while mostly cloudy with AM freezing fog and patchy afternoon fog West of I-5, mostly cloudy with patchy evening freezing fog, areas of freezing fog late Saturday night.
• highs near 37 lows near 23.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM and late night fog and freezing fog again Sunday with lingering afternoon fog,
• Mostly cloudy Monday with AM fog and freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, a (40%) chance of showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• highs 37-43 lows 30-32. (seasonal averages high 45 low 34)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: YELLOW– Caution is Advised.

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, partly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy fog this afternoon, mostly clear with patchy evening fog, patchy fog and freezing fog late tonight (New Year’s Eve),
• Patchy AM fog and freezing fog, sunny and a bit warmer Friday afternoon (New Year’s Day), clear with patchy evening fog, areas of fog and freezing fog  late Friday night,
• AM freezing fog Saturday, sunny with patchy lingering fog in the afternoon, mostly clear with areas of fog and freezing fog late Saturday night.
• highs near 40 lows 25-23 warming to 28 Saturday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday AM, mostly cloudy with patchy lingering fog in the afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog in the evening, a slight (20%) chance of rain late Sunday night,
• Partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM rain, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (60%) Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• highs 40-48 lows 33-38. (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 freezing fog this AM, sunny and a bit cooler this afternoon, mostly clear with patchy coastal fog and freezing fog while patchy inland freezing fog late tonight (New Year’s Eve),
• Patchy AM coastal fog and freezing fog while patchy AM freezing fog inland, sunny Friday afternoon (New Year’s Day), mostly clear with areas of inland fog and freezing fog late at night,
• Areas of AM freezing fog, sunny Saturday with patchy afternoon lingering fog, then mostly clear with areas of freezing fog Saturday night.
• highs near 50 lows 30-35.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday  afternoon, then mostly cloudy with patchy evening fog, a slight (20%) chance of rain late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Monday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Tuesday through Wednesday.
• highs 50-53 lows 40-43. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny today (New Year’s Eve) while a mix of clouds and sun in the AM near the Cascade Crest and partly cloudy this afternoon, clear tonight while mostly cloudy near the Cascade Crest, breezy (Wind: SE 15-25 mph gusts to 35 mph tonight),
• Sunny Friday (New Year’s Day) while a mix of clouds and sun in the AM and sunny in the afternoon near the Cascade Crest, breezy (Wind: SE 15-25 mph gusts to 35 mph), mostly clear and cold Friday night,
• Mostly sunny Saturday, then partly cloudy at night.
• free air freezing level at the surface today through Saturday night.
• highs near 27 lows 10-9 warming to 14 Saturday night.
• Mostly sunny Sunday, partly cloudy at night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Monday afternoon,  a (40%) chance of rain and snow Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Wednesday.
• free air freezing level at the surface Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night and Monday, 4,500 ft. Monday night through Tuesday night, then 4,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 30-33 lows 18-27 cooling to 24 Tuesday night.

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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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