Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is the “NAO Index?”  Here is the correct answer. The NAO Index measures the anomalies in sea level pressure between the Icelandic low pressure system and the Azores high pressure system in the North Atlantic Ocean. When the NAO is in its is positive phase (+NAO), the northeastern United States sees an increase in temperature and a decrease in snow days; the central US has increased precipitation, the North Sea has an increase in storms; and Norway along with Northern Europe has warmer temperatures and increased precipitation. When the NAO is in its negative phase (-NAO), the Tropical Atlantic and Gulf coast have increased number of strong hurricanes; northern Europe is drier, and Turkey along with other Mediterranean countries has increased precipitation. 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) has moved in behind the high pressure that stopped the rain for a short time Wednesday. A frontal system moved into the Pacific Northwest. A 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 54 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 80 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 40 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOUS MOUNTAINS, TONIGHT FOR JACKSON COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, KLAMATH COUNTY, AND DOUGLAS COUNTY.

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

• Mostly cloudy and cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible, more possible in storms), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers with patchy fog late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday AM, rain and a bit cooler in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of evening showers, patchy fog with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Patchy AM fog and a slight (20%) chance of showers, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, a (40%) chance of rain late Monday night.
• highs 53-50 lows 40-45.
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• A (40%) chance of rain Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Thursday and Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Friday.
• highs 50-55 cooling back to 50 Friday lows 44-46 cooling to 43 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 48 low 35)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: YELLOW – Caution is advised.

Oakridge: YELLOW – Caution is advised.

*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:

• Showers with isolated thunderstorms and a bit cooler this afternoon, (0.15 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM rain, rain and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Monday with patchy AM fog, partly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night.
• highs 50-54 lows 39-44.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Cloudy with rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday, rain Thursday night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 55-59 cooling to 52 Friday lows 45-49 cooling back to 45 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 51 low 37)

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

• Showers and isolated thunderstorms and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Sunday with AM coastal rain likely (70%) while a good (50%) chance of inland rain, rain in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog Monday AM, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal showers while partly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of inland showers in the afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night.
• highs 52-56 lows 43-49.
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain Thursday and Thursday night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 56-59 cooling to 53 Friday lows 50-54 cooling back to 50 Thursday night. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Rain and snow showers and cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible),
• Cloudy Sunday with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow, rain and snow in the afternoon, evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late at night,
• Partly cloudy and warmer Monday, then becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Monday night.
• snow level 4,500 ft. today, 4,000 ft. tonight, 3,500 ft. Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night, free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Monday, then snow level 8,000 ft. Monday night.
• highs 36-34 warming to 38 Monday lows 26-32.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday, becoming mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Thursday and at night,
• Then rain and snow likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday.
• snow level 7,500 ft. Tuesday, above 8,000 ft. Tuesday night, 7,500 ft. Wednesday, 8,000 ft. Wednesday night through Thursday night, then 5,500 ft. Friday.
• highs 42-47 lows 34-36 cooling to 33 Thursday night.

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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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