Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is an “Observation Well?”  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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An upper level ridge of high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has taken over to keep the rain away from us, but limits sunshine if the fog and clouds don’t clear.  Looks like dry weather will continue for a while. Thursday a frontal system is poised to move in which could bring the rain back by Thursday night. Here is another frontal system shown moving through Oregon Saturday morning which means more showery weather.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 31 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 4 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 37 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories: Not At This Time.

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

• Clear this evening, areas of fog late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog Tuesday, mostly sunny and a bit cooler with patchy lingering fog in the afternoon, partly cloudy in the evening, cloudy with areas of fog Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog Wednesday AM, partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon, just mostly cloudy Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Thursday, then becoming cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Thursday night.
• lows 38-44 highs 56-60 .
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday and Friday night,
• A bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Saturday, a good (50%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’Day).
• high 55-58 lows 42-40 warming back to 42 Monday. (seasonal averages high 50 low 35)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: YELLOW – Caution is Advised.

Oakridge: GREEN – Burning Wood 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:

• Clear this evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight and Tuesday AM, sunny and a bit warmer with patchy lingering afternoon fog, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy and colder with patchy fog late at night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog Wednesday, mostly cloudy Wednesday night and Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a (30% ) chance of showers Thursday night.
• lows 43-48 highs 62-64.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain likely (60%) Friday, a (40%) chance of showers Friday night and Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’Day).
• highs 62-57 warming back to 62 Monday lows near 42. (seasonal averages high 52 low 37)

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Forecast for The South Oregon Coast Including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Clear tonight,
• Sunny Tuesday, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late at night,
• Partly cloudy in the AM, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy Thursday, then cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Thursday night.
• lows near 49 highs 70-59.
• Rain likely (60%) and a bit cooler Friday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Friday night and Saturday (a bit cooler), mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday (a bit warmer), cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Then just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’Day).
• highs 60-53 lows 50-45. (seasonal averages high 52 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Clear tonight,
• Sunny Tuesday, clear at night,
• Mostly sunny Wednesday AM, partly cloudy and a bit cooler in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Thursday, then becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night.
• free air freezing level 13,000 ft. tonight and Tuesday, 11,000 ft. Tuesday night, 10,000 ft. Wednesday through Thursday, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Thursday night.
• lows 29-35 cooling to 33 Thursday night highs 52-47.
• Cloudy and cooler Friday with a good (50%) chance of rain, rain and snow likely (70%) Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’Day).
• snow level  8,000 ft. Friday, 5,500 ft. Friday night, 4,500 ft. Saturday and Saturday night, 6,500 ft. Sunday, 7,700 ft. Sunday night, then above 8,000 ft. Monday.
• highs 43-39 warming to 47 Monday lows 28-32.

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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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