Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “Latent Heat Flux?” 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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A large upper level low (Shaded U shape with blue arrows) continues to send frontal systems at us. A weak frontal system moves through the Pacific Northwest producing clouds and rain. A parade of increasingly  stronger storms like this frontal system that will move in Friday adding to the chance of rain. The storms will be spaced about 24 hours apart. Another frontal system pushes into Oregon Sunday into Monday. Willamette Pass, Hoodoo and Mt. Ashland are all open with great ski conditions. Check their websites for updates.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 7 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 40 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 12 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 NOON TODAY FOR THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM TODAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Mostly cloudy with showers today (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and cooler Thursday (0.35 in. of rain possible) and in the evening, showers likely (60%) late at night (0.35 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday AM, just mostly cloudy in the afternoon, then rain Friday night.
• highs 52-44 warming back to 48 Friday lows 37-42.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Saturday, rain likely (60%) Saturday night through Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Then rain likely (60%) Tuesday.
• highs 52-48 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 47 low 34)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN- Burning is Allowed.

Oakridge:  GREEN- Burning is Allowed.

*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 showers today (0.35 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.), a (40%) chance of showers this evening, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. late),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Thursday AM, rain and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft. rising to 3,000 ft. in the afternoon), evening rain, showers likely (70%) late Thursday night (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. late at night),
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance showers of Friday, then rain likely (70%) Friday night.
• highs 52-48 warming to 50 Friday lows 37-43.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with showers Saturday, showers likely (70%) Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday, then rain likely (60%) Sunday night through Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 52-49 lows 40-42. (seasonal averages high 49 low 36)

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal thunderstorms today (0.40 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Thursday (0.40 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SE 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph in the afternoon at the shore), evening rain, coastal showers late Thursday night while inland showers likely (60%) late at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday, then rain Friday night.
• highs 53-56 lows 43-48.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday, showers likely (70%) Saturday night,
• Rain likely (60%) Sunday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy and just a bit cooler with rain Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then rain likely (60%) Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 56-53 lows near 45. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers today (0.50 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible), cloudy with evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM snow, rain or snow Thursday afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-5 in. of snow possible) and evening, rain and snow showers late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday AM, just mostly cloudy in the afternoon, then rain and snow Friday night.
• snow level 4,500 ft. this afternoon, 2,500 ft. tonight and Thursday, 3,500 ft. Thursday night and Friday, then 5,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 37-32 warming to 35 Friday lows 24-29.
• Cloudy with rain Saturday AM, rain and snow in the afternoon, rain and snow likely (60%) Saturday night through Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (60%) Tuesday.
• snow level 6,500 ft. falling to 4,500 ft. Saturday afternoon, 4,500 ft. Saturday night and Sunday, 5,000 ft. Sunday night through Monday night, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 35-33  lows near 26.

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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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