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) is still controlling our weather.  A frontal system moved through the Pacific Northwest. There will be a short break on Monday as upper level high pressure drys us out for a day. Next week another frontal system will approach the Oregon coast returning our wet weather. 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 19 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 35 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: None At This Time.

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

• Cloudy with patchy fog and a slight (20%) chance of rain this AM, rain and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%), patchy fog with a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Patchy AM fog, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Monday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a rain likely (60%)  Tuesday, then a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night.
• highs 48-53 lows 38-45.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Rain and a bit cooler Thursday and Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Friday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Friday night and Saturday.
• highs 56-47 lows 48-42. (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:

• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM rain, rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.), a (40%) chance of evening rain, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Monday with patchy AM fog and a slight (20%) chance of showers, just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday night.
• highs 50-54 lows 40-44.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday, a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday night,
• Rain and cooler Friday, rain likely (60%) at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday.
• highs 59-48 lows 49-42. (seasonal averages high 51 low 37)

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

• Mostly cloudy today with AM coastal rain likely (70%) and afternoon rain while inland rain likely (70%) this afternoon, a bit cooler, (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening coastal rain while inland rain likely (70%) in the evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Monday with patchy AM fog, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday and Tuesday night.
• highs 52-57 lows 46-52.
• 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,
• Rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday.
• highs 59-50 lows 54-47. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy today with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow, rain and snow at times this afternoon, evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight,
• Partly cloudy and warmer Monday, then becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night.
• snow level 3,500 ft. today, 4,000 ft. tonight, free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Monday, snow level 7,000 ft. Monday night, 7,500 ft. Tuesday, then 8,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• highs 32-40 lows 26-35.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Thursday and at night,
• Cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Friday, showers likely (70%) Friday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• free air freezing level 9,000 ft. Wednesday, snow level 8,000 ft. Wednesday night, above 8,000 ft. Thursday, 8,000 ft. Thursday night, 6,500 ft. Friday, 5,000 ft. Friday night, then 4,000 ft. Saturday.
• highs 42-34 lows 37-29.

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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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