Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is “Latent Heat Flux?” Here is the correct answer. Latent Heat Flux is the flux of heat from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere that is associated with evaporation or condensation of water vapor at the surface; a component of the surface energy budget. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. 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 frontal system, warm front first then the cold front, is moving into the Pacific Northwest spreading more rain across the Pacific Northwest. A parade of increasingly  stronger storms like this frontal system that will slide into Oregon Tuesday. We will see more frontal system 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 16 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 22 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 42 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, EASTERN CIURRY COUNTY, AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR 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:

• Cloudy with showers this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, cloudy with a good (50%) of rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain changing to showers Sunday (0.75 in. of rain possible),  showers decreasing Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a mix of clouds and sun Monday afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain in the evening, then becoming cloudy with showers late Monday night.
• highs 52-49 lows 42-40.
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Tuesday, showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday, rain Wednesday night and Thursday (warmer), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• Then rain likely (70%) and cooler Friday.
• highs 47-55 cooling to 50 Friday lows 44-42. (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 this afternoon (0.20 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, a good (50%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday (0.95 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening rain, a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Monday afternoon and evening (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then rain likely (70%) Monday night.
• highs 52-54 lows 45-42.
• Rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Tuesday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a (30%) chance of afternoon rain, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Rain likely (70%) Thursday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday night and Friday.
• highs near 52 lows near 43. (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 showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.35 in. of rain possible) and breezy inland (Wind: SW 10-20 mph while windy at the shore (Wind: SW 20-30 mph shifting SW 15-25 mph this afternoon), cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening showers, rain late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday (1.25 in. of rain possible), possibly heavy at times in the AM, and breezy (Wind: S 20-30 mph shifting SW 10-20 mph in the afternoon at the shore while SW 10-20 mph inland), evening coastal rain while rain likely (60%) inland, a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), then rain likely (70%) Monday afternoon and Monday night.
• highs near 56 lows 49-46.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Tuesday, showers and windy at night,
• A (40%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a (40%) chance of rain in the afternoon, rain Wednesday night and Thursday, rain likely (60%) Thursday night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs near 55 lows 47-50 cooling back to 47 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and snow showers this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph), evening rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible),
• Rain and snow Sunday (1 in. of snow possible, 2-5 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of afternoon rain and snow, rain or snow in the evening, then cloudy with rain and snow showers Monday night.
• snow level 5,500 ft. today, 4,500 ft. tonight, 5,500 ft. Sunday, 5,000 ft. Sunday night, 4,000 Monday, then 4,500 ft.  Monday night.
• highs 37-34 lows 29-26.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (60%) and a bit cooler Tuesday, rain and snow showers Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, rain or snow at night,
• Rain and warmer Thursday, a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• Then cloudy and cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Friday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Tuesday through Wednesday, 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, 6,500 ft. Thursday, 6,000 ft. Thursday night, then 5,500 ft. Friday.
• highs 33-39 cooling back to 33 Thursday lows 27-32 cooling back to 27 Thursday 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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