Here is my 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 in behind the high pressure that stopped the rain for a short time Wednesday. A frontal system is moving into the Pacific Northwest with the warm front sliding in first (shown in red) and continuing the rainfall. A parade of storms is still out there. Another frontal system (position shown is Saturday) will move into Oregon Friday night and Saturday.

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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 WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 4 PM FRIDAY FOR NORTHERN AND WESTERN, CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE COQUILLE RIVER AT COQUILLE. EXPECTED TO STAY ABOVE FLOOD STAGE THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.

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

• Cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer today (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM rain, a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Friday afternoon and evening, showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Saturday, then a (40%) chance of showers Saturday night.
• highs 55-47 lows 45-37.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday, a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, becoming cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (60%) Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• highs 47-54 lows 36-45. (seasonal averages high 48 low 35)

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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 with a slight (20%) chance of rain today, evening rain likely (70%), rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible) and Friday AM, good (50%) chance of rain in the afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening showers, showers late Friday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night.
• highs 58-52 lows 42-38.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Sunday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday, a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 49-58 lows 38-46. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain today (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain tonight (0.45 in. of rain possible) and Friday AM, a bit cooler with afternoon coastal rain likely (60%) while a good (50%) chance of afternoon inland rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening coastal showers while inland evening showers likely (70%), showers late Friday night (0.45 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) and a bit cooler Saturday, then a (40%) chance of showers Saturday night.
• highs 60-50 lows 48-44.
• Just mostly cloudy Sunday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday, then cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 52-58 lows 44-50. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM rain, a slight (20%) chance of rain and just a bit warmer this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of evening rain, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Friday AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the afternoon, a (50%) chance of rain and snow showers in the evening, rain and snow showers Friday night and cooler Saturday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night.
• snow level 8,000 ft. today, 7,000 ft. tonight, 5,500 ft. Friday, 5,000 ft. Friday night, 4,000 ft. Saturday, then 3,500 ft. Saturday night.
• highs 40-32 lows 32-23.
• Mostly cloudy Sunday with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers, a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• Just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday, becoming mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• A bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• snow level 3,000 ft. Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night, free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Monday, snow level 7,500 ft. Monday night, 8,000 ft. Tuesday, 7,500 ft. Tuesday night, then 7,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 32-42 lows 26-33.

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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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