Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is the “NAO Index?”  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 pushed into the Pacific Northwest dropping well over an inch of rain throughout the area already. There will be a brief break from the rain late this morning and early this afternoon, then the rain returns.  A parade of storms is still out there. One will hit late today and tonight while another frontal system will slide into Oregon Thursday. Wait there is more! We will see another frontal system come through between Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 52 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 67 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM TODAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH FORK OF THE COQUILLE RIVER AT MYRTLE POINT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM TODAY  FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.

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

• Partly cloudy this AM, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) by late this afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible) and Tuesday (0.50 in. of rain possible), showers at night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain in the afternoon, then rain Wednesday night.
• highs near 49 lows 42-44.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Thursday, rain likely (60%) Thursday night and Friday (a bit cooler), showers likely (70%) at night,
• Rain likely (70%) Saturday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday.
• highs 53-47 lows 43-38. (seasonal averages high 48 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:

• Partly cloudy with patchy fog this AM, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) this afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible) and Tuesday (0.25 in. of rain possible), showers at night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Wednesday, then rain Wednesday night.
• highs near 52 lows 42-40 warming to 48 Wednesday night.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Thursday, rain likely (60%) Thursday night through Friday night,
• Showers likely (70%) Saturday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs 54-49 lows 44-40. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Partly cloudy this AM inland and cloudy with a (30%) chance of afternoon rain while coastal rain  (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) and a bit cooler this afternoon (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), rain tonight (0.60 in. of rain possible),
• Rain Tuesday (0.75 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SE 10-20 mph at the shore increasing to S 20-30 mph in the afternoon while S 10-20 mph inland,  gusts to 40 mph in the afternoon), evening showers, then showers likely (70%) late Tuesday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Wednesday, then rain Wednesday night.
• highs 55-53 warming back to 55 Wednesday lows 47-44 warming to  53 Wednesday night.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Thursday, rain likely (70%) Thursday night through Friday night,
• Showers Saturday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Then rain likely (60%) Sunday.
• highs 56-52 lows 48-44. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler today (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), becoming mostly cloudy with rain and snow tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-5 in. of snow possible),
• Rain and snow Tuesday and in the evening, rain and snow showers late Tuesday night and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph decreasing to SW 10-15 mph gusts to 30 mph late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow in the afternoon, then rain likely (70%) at night.
• snow level 5,000 rising to 6,000 ft. this afternoon, 4,500 ft. tonight, 5,000 ft. Tuesday, 4,000 ft. Tuesday night and Wednesday, then 6,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs near 36 lows 30-27 warming to 33 Wednesday night.
• Rain and a bit warmer Thursday, rain likely (70%) Thursday night and Friday (a bit cooler), rain and snow showers likely (70%) Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and cooler with rain and snow likely (70%) Saturday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday.
• snow level 8,000 ft. Thursday, 6,500 ft. Thursday night and Friday, 5,000 ft. Friday night, 3,500 ft. Saturday and at night, then 4,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 40-32 lows 30-25.

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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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