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). A cold front moved in today bringing rain with it. A warm front (shown offshore in red)  will be spreading more moisture our way by Saturday afternoon.  The parade of storms continues Tuesday as a frontal system approaches the Pacific Northwest.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 7 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 10 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 18 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST. (BREAKER HEIGHTS OF 17 TO 20 FT. EXPECTED ALONG THE SURF ZONE. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LARGE WAVES AND SNEAKER WAVES)

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

• Partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and colder tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain Saturday night (0.50 in. of rain possible) and Sunday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible and a bit warmer), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible).
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day) with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night.
• lows 42-47 cooling to 45 Monday night highs 53-60.
• A mix of clouds and sun and cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain likely (70%) Wednesday and at night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday night and Friday.
• high 60-55 lows 46-43. (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 showers tonight (under 0.10 in of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, rain Saturday night (0.20 in. of rain possible) and Sunday (0.10 in. of rain possible and a bit warmer), a slight (20%) chance of evening rain, mostly cloudy with patchy fog Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, partly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday afternoon (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day), then partly cloudy at night.
• lows 42-47 cooling to 45 Monday night highs 57-63.
• Partly cloudy Tuesday, mostly cloudy Tuesday night,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday,  rain likely (60%) Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday and Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 63-57 warming to 60 Friday lows 47-43. (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 showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Saturday with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon rain (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain Saturday night (0.30 in. of rain possible) and Sunday AM, rain likely (70%) and a bit warmer in the afternoon (0.30 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of inland evening rain while a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain Sunday night with patchy fog late,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog partly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday afternoon (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day), then partly cloudy Monday night.
• lows 44-50 cooling to 48 Monday night highs 55-65.
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday and Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 62-58 lows 50-47. (seasonal averages high 53 low 40).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening rain and snow showers, rain and snow showers likely (70%) and colder late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun Saturday with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, rain and snow in the evening, rain late at night,
• 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 and a bit warmer Monday (Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day) with a slight (20%) chance of rain and warmer, then just partly cloudy at night.
• snow level 4,000 ft. late tonight and Saturday, 5,000 ft. rising to 6,500 ft. Saturday night, 6,500 ft. rising to 7,500 ft. Sunday, 8,000 ft. Sunday night and Monday, then free air freezing level 9,000 ft. Monday night,
• lows 27-37 highs 43-50.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and cooler Wednesday, then rain and snow Wednesday night,
• Rain and snow likely (70%) and a bit cooler Thursday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Friday.
•  snow level 7,000 ft. Tuesday through Wednesday, 5,500 ft. Wednesday night, 4,000 ft. Thursday, then 5,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 50-39 warming to 43 Friday lows 39-30.

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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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