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) has moved in behind the high pressure that stopped the rain for a short time Wednesday. A frontal system moved into the Pacific Northwest. Between tonight and Saturday the low pressure center will push through increasing the rain again. Next week another  frontal system (position shown is Tuesday) will move into Oregon keeping our wet weather pattern intact. Here comes a frontal system next Thursday to keep the rain falling.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 15 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 28 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 MORNING.

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

• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and warmer this afternoon, increasing clouds to mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain, rain late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers Saturday (0.25 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) and Sunday, then a (30%) chance of showers Sunday night.
• highs 53-47 lows 42-34.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Then showers likely (70%) Thursday.
• highs 49-55 lows 43-47. (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 rain this AM, good (50%) chance of rain this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%), rain late tonight (0.20 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM showers, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, (0.25 in. of rain possible) a (40%) chance of showers at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Sunday, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday night.
• highs 60-50 lows 40-38.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Monday AM and a slight (20%) chance of rain, partly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a slight (20%) chance of rain a bit warmer Wednesday afternoon and at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Thursday.
• highs 55-59 lows 43-49. (seasonal averages high 50 low 37)

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

• Increasing clouds to mostly cloudy this afternoon with a slight (20%) chance of coastal showers this afternoon while a slight (20%) chance of inland showers this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal evening rain likely (70%) and coastal rain with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight while inland rain tonight (0.30 in. of rain possible),
• Showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Saturday AM, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), a (30%) chance of showers Saturday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Sunday, then a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday night.
• highs 56-52 lows 46-44.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain in the afternoon and Wednesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain Thursday.
• highs 57-59 cooling to 56 Thursday lows 49-54. (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 isolated rain and snow showers this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow this evening, rain and snow late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible),
• Rain and snow showers and cooler Saturday (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible), mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers likely (70%) in the evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Saturday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Sunday with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers, then a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers at night.
• snow level 5,000 ft. today and tonight, 4,500 ft. Saturday, 4,000 ft. Saturday night, 3,500 ft. Sunday, then 2,500 ft. Sunday night.
• highs 39-32 lows 28-23 warming to 26 Sunday night.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, becoming mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Then rain likely (70%) Thursday.
• free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Monday, snow level 7,500 ft. Monday night, 8,000 ft. Tuesday, 7,500 ft. Tuesday night and Wednesday, 8,000 ft. Wednesday night, then above 8,000 ft. Thursday.
• highs 36-42 lows 32-35.

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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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