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) is moving away allowing high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) to try to take over, but that won’t last very long. A frontal system is moving through the Pacific Northwest bringing continuing the rainfall. The high gives us a little break Wednesday, but a parade of storms is still out there. Another frontal system (position shown is Friday) will slide into Oregon Thursday. Wait there is more! We will see another frontal system (position shown is Saturday) come through between Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 13 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE. EXPECTED TO STAY ABOVE FLOOD STAGE THROUGH FRIDAY.

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

• Patchy AM fog,  mostly cloudy with sun peeks and a slight (20%) chance of rain late this afternoon, increasing clouds to cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible) and Thursday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain at night (0.40 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM rain, a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Friday afternoon, then rain Friday night.
• highs 50-54 lows 43-45 cooling back to 40 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Saturday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and just a bit cooler Sunday, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday, then rain likely (70%) Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 48-46 warming to near 50 Tuesday lows 38-36 warming to near 44 Monday night. (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:

• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%), rain Thursday night (0.30 in. of rain possible) and Friday, evening rain likely (70%), then rain late Friday night.
• highs 52-58 lows near 42.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Saturday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
  Just mostly cloudy Sunday and Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Then rain likely (70%) and just a bit warmer Tuesday.
• highs 52-50 warming to 55 Tuesday lows 38-45. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of  rain this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain this evening, rain likely (70%) late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain Thursday (0.10 in. of rain possible), then rain Thursday night (0.75 in. of rain possible) through Friday night.
• highs 56-62 lows 49-46.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) and a bit cooler Saturday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Just mostly cloudy Sunday and Sunday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday and Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Tuesday.
• highs 53-56 lows 44-50. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers this AM, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain this afternoon and evening, a slight (20%) chance of rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• A slight (20%) chance of rain and just a bit warmer Thursday, a (40%) chance of evening rain, rain late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Friday AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the afternoon, then rain and snow Friday night.
• snow level 3,500 ft. this AM rising to 4,000 ft. this afternoon, 7,000 ft. tonight, 8,000 ft. Thursday, 7,000 ft. Thursday night, 5,000 ft. Friday, then 5,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 35-42 cooling to near 40 Friday lows 33-28.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers Saturday, a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Sunday, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow at night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Monday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Tuesday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Saturday, 3,500 ft. Saturday night, free air freezing level at the surface Sunday, snow level 3,000 ft. Sunday night, 5,000 ft. Monday, 7.500 ft. Monday night, then 7,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 32-39 lows 22-35.

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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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