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 moved through the Pacific Northwest producing clouds and rain. A parade of increasingly  stronger storms like this frontal system that will slide into Oregon Sunday. We will see more frontal systems like this one shown pushing onto the coast next Thursday. 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 18 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 13 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 13 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 FROM 10 AM THURSDAY UNTIL 4 AM FRIDAY FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND  THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• *A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THURSDAY UNTIL 4 AM FRIDAY FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS,  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 evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Patchy AM fog, rain and cooler Thursday (0.25 in. of rain possible) and in the evening, showers likely (60%) late at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog and a (40%) chance of rain, just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon, rain late Friday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and Saturday, then showers likely (70%) Saturday night.
• lows 37-42 highs 45-52.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Sunday through Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), continuing through Tuesday,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday,
• highs 50-48 lows 42-38. (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 a good (50%) chance of showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. late),
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Thursday AM, rain and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. rising to 3,500 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 (30%) chance showers of Friday (0.15 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 3,500 ft.), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening rain, rain likely (70%) late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Saturday, then a (70%) chance of showers Saturday night.
• lows 39-44 cooling to 42 Saturday night highs 48-53.
• Mostly cloudy with a rain likely (70%) Sunday and Sunday night and Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and Monday night and Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain at night.
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 52-49 lows 42-39. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Mostly cloudy with evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Thursday (0.45 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SE 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph late morning and in the afternoon at the shore while S 10-20 mph inland), evening rain, showers likely (60%) late Thursday night (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers Friday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal rain Friday night while inland evening rain likely (70%) and rain late at night (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Saturday, then a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday night.
• lows 44-48 highs 53-56.
• Rain Sunday, rain likely (60%) Sunday night and Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain likely (70%) Monday night and Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 55-53 lows 47-43. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with evening showers, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly 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 and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday AM, mostly cloudy in the afternoon, rain and snow Friday night,
• Cloudy with rain and snow Saturday and breezy, then rain and snow showers likely (70%) Saturday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. tonight and Thursday, 3,500 ft. Thursday night and Friday, then 5,500 ft. rising to 6,000 ft. Friday night, 6,000 ft. Saturday, then 4,500 ft. Saturday night.
• lows 24-30 cooling to 28 Saturday night highs 33-37.
• Cloudy with rain and snow likely (60%) Sunday, rain and snow at night,
• Rain and snow likely (70%) Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), through Tuesday, rain and snow Tuesday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• snow level 5,000 ft. Sunday, 5,500 ft. Sunday night and Monday, 5,000 ft. Monday night, 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 3,500 ft. Tuesday night, then 3,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 36-34  lows 28-26.

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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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