Here is my 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) is starting to move away from us to be followed by and upper level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows on previous graphic). Another fairly weak frontal system continues to add clouds and showers to the mix. Yet another frontal system will be moving through Oregon Sunday. The parade continues Tuesday as a storm pushes into the Pacific Northwest.

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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 54 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 69 in the Moderate 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:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible) and Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday AM, afternoon showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler, a good (50%) chance of showers Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday, then rain at night.
• lows 48-50 cooling to 43 Friday night warming to 47 Saturday night highs 59-53.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day), partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy and cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday and a bit cooler, a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• high 53-60 cooling to 52 Wednesday lows 47-45. (seasonal averages high 51 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 slight (20%) chance of rain tonight,
• Cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday AM, showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon, cloudy with a good (50%) of showers Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday, then rain at night.
• lows 46-42 warming to 45 Saturday night highs 62-57.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit warmer Sunday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day) through Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Then rain likely (70%) and cooler Wednesday.
• highs 60-62 cooling to near 54 Wednesday lows near 46. (seasonal averages high 53 low 37).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Thursday, a good (50%) chance of coastal rain in the evening and rain likely (70%) at night while a (30%) chance of inland rain Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday AM, showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Saturday, then rain at night.
• lows 52-46 warming to 49 Saturday night highs 67-58.
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday, a (30%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day), a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday nght,
• Then rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Wednesday.
• highs 59-64 cooling to 54 Wednesday lows 50-48. (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 rain tonight and Thursday AM, a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Thursday afternoon, a (40%) chance of rain in the afternoon, a (40%) chance of rain at night,
• Cloudy with rain Friday AM, showers in the afternoon, rain and snow showers and colder Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, rain and snow likely (70%)  at night.
• snow level 8,000 ft. tonight, above 8,000 ft. Thursday, snow level 8,000 ft. Thursday night, 7,500 ft. falling to 6,500 ft. Friday afternoon, 4,500 ft. late Friday night, 4,000 ft. Saturday, 5,000 ft. Saturday night.
• lows 37-30 warming to 32 Saturday night highs 52-40.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Sunday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day), partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday, a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Then rain and snow likely (70%) and cooler Wednesday.
• snow level 7,500 ft. Sunday, above 8,000 ft. Sunday night, 7,500 ft. Monday, above 8,000 ft. Monday night, 7,000 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, then 5,500 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 43-48 cooling to 40 Wednesday lows 36-32.

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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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