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 Saturday 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 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 35 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 72 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST AND THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST.
• A HIGH SURF WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TODAY UNTIL 4 AM MONDAY  FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN. NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain this morning and showers this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible), evening showers decreasing to a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a mix of clouds and sun with increasing clouds and a slight (20%) chance of rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) late Monday afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), evening rain, showers Monday night (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Tuesday and in the evening, showers at night.
• highs near 49 lows 42-40 warming to 44 Tuesday.
• 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 rain likely (70%) 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 rain and a slight (20%) chance of AM thunderstorms, rain this afternoon (0.65 in. of rain possible), cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms,, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (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),
• Rain Tuesday, evening showers likely (70%), then showers at night.
• highs near 52 lows near 42.
• 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 showers likely (70%)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 this AM with rain, possibly heavy at times, and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms,  (0.95 in. of rain possible), breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph at the shore while SW 10-20 mph inland, cloudy with evening showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms,  showers late tonight (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 coastal rain Tuesday while inland AM rain and rain likely (70%)  in the afternoon, then showers and breezy Tuesday night.
• highs near 55 lows near 45.
• 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:

• Rain this AM, showers this afternoon (1 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: S 15-25 mph gusts 35 to 45 mph mainly on exposed ridges), showers decreasing tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of AM rain or 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), evening rain,  showers Monday night,
• Rain Tuesday and in the evening, then showers Tuesday night.
• snow level 7,000 ft. falling to 6,000 ft. this afternoon, 6,000 ft. falling to 4,500 ft. late tonight, 4,500 Monday and Monday night, 5,000 ft. Tuesday, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• highs near 35 lows near 27.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, rain and snow 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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