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, moved through the Pacific Northwest spreading more rain across the area and even prompted a severe thunderstorm warning for Northeastern Benton County, North Central Lane County, Western Linn County, Southwestern Marion County, and Southeastern Polk County at 11 am lasting for about a half an hour. Look to the West on the previous graphic and you’ll see the next frontal system moving in. A parade of increasingly  stronger storms like this frontal system that will slide into Oregon Tuesday. We will see another 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 18 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 41 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 36 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 WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM SUNDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY 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 CURRY COUNTY, AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM UNTIL 4 PM SUNDAY FOR JACKSON COUNTY, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM UNTIL 10 PM SUNDAY 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 a slight (20%) 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 Sunday (0.50 in. of rain possible), evening showers decreasing to a slight (20%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of AM rain, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) Monday afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain Monday night (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Tuesday AM, then showers in the afternoon and at night.
• lows 42-40 warming to 44 Tuesday highs 49-47.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, rain and a bit warmer Wednesday night and Thursday, rain likely (70%) Thursday night and Friday, showers likely (70%) at night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 48-52 cooling to 46 Saturday lows 44-40. (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 a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, a good (50%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday (0.65 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening rain, a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) Monday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), evening showers, showers likely (60%) late Monday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Then showers Tuesday and at night.
• lows 45-40 highs near 52.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a (30%) chance of afternoon showers, rain Wednesday night and Thursday, rain likely (60%) Thursday night through Friday night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 54-50 lows 45-40. (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 a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, rain late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible) and rain Sunday (0.95 in. of rain possible), heavy at times in the AM, breezy (Wind: S 20-20 shifting SW 10-20 mph in the afternoon at the shore while SW 10-20 mph inland, AM gusts to 40 mph), cloudy with evening rain while rain, a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Monday with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, showers (0.15 in. of rain possible) and a bit cooler in the afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Monday night (0.45 in. of rain possible),
• Then mostly cloudy and breezy with showers Tuesday and Tuesday night.
• lows 48-45 highs near 55.
• Mostly cloudy with 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 through Friday night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 56-53 lows 49-44. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers this evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Rain and snow Sunday (1 in. of rain possible, 2-4 in. of snow possible) and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph), cloudy with rain and snow showers in the evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late at night,
• A slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Monday afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain and snow Monday night and Tuesday AM, then rain and snow showers in the afternoon and Tuesday night.
• snow level 4,500 ft. tonight, 6,500 ft. falling to 5,500 ft. Sunday, 5,500 ft. falling to 4,500 ft. late Sunday night, 4,000 Monday, 4,500 ft. Monday night, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night.
• lows 29-26 highs 36-33.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) at night,
• Rain and warmer Thursday, rain likely  (70%) Thursday night,
• Cloudy and cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday, then rain and snow likely (70%) Friday night and Saturday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Wednesday, 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, 8,000 ft. Thursday, 6,500 ft. Thursday night, 6,000 ft. Friday, 4,500 ft. Friday night, then 3,000 ft. Saturday.
• highs 33-39 cooling back to 33 Saturday lows 32-27.

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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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