Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is  a “Parapet Wall?” (No it’s not surrounding a castle.) 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 high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has taken over keeping the week dry and warmer. We didn’t get quite as warm as I expected Tuesday, but today really did warm up. By Friday this frontal system (position shown is Saturday with another one following) will be approaching the Pacific Northwest. And, of course, a new frontal system shows up offshore next Tuesday.

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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 13 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 16 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

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Advisories:

• A BEACH HAZARD STATEMENT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.  HIGH OCEAN SWELL OF 12 TO 15 FEET WILL  CREATE BREAKER HEIGHTS OF 17 TO 20 FEET IN THE SURF ZONE ALONG THE COAST. WAVES WILL RUN UP ON THE BEACH MORE THAN NORMAL. EXTRA CAUTION SHOULD BE USED AT THE BEACHES THROUGH THIS EVENING. ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE TO THE SEA.

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

• Mostly cloudy this evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog late tonight,
• Areas of AM fog and clouds, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, partly cloudy with patchy fog late at night,
• Patchy AM fog, a mix of clouds and sun with increasing clouds and a (40%) chance of rain Friday afternoon, mostly cloudy with evening rain, showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday, partly cloudy with patchy fog late at night.
• lows 38-47 cooling to 42 Saturday night highs 59-56.
• Patchy AM fog, rain likely (70%) and bit cooler Sunday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Tuesday, partly cloudy at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• high 54-60 lows 37-39. (seasonal averages high 53 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:

• Partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM fog, mostly sunny Thursday afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain Friday afternoon, rain and a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM showers, a (40%) chance of rain and cooler Saturday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday night.
• lows 43-46 highs 66-60.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit cooler Sunday and Sunday night,
• A (40%) chance of rain Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Tuesday, partly cloudy Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Wednesday.
• highs 56-66 lows 40-43. (seasonal averages high 55 low 38).

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

• Mostly cloudy tonight,
• Partly cloudy in the AM, mostly sunny Thursday afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain Friday AM and rain in the afternoon while inland rain likely (70%) in the afternoon, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the evening, showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM showers, a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon, then a (30%) chance of rain at night.
• lows 45-48 highs 62-58.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain Sunday and Sunday night,
• A (30%) chance of rain Monday, a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy and warmer Tuesday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday.
• highs 56-64 lows 43-47. (seasonal averages high 53 low 41).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy tonight through Thursday night,
• Becoming mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Friday afternoon, rain in the evening, showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers likely (70%) Saturday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and colder in the afternoon, then just mostly cloudy at night.
• free air freezing level 9,000 ft. tonight, 11,000 ft. Thursday and Thursday night, snow level 8,000 ft. Friday, 7,000 ft. falling to 6,000 ft. late Friday night, 4,500 ft. Saturday, then free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Saturday night.
• lows 28-35 cooling to 30 Saturday night highs 52-42.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain and snow Sunday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Tuesday, partly cloudy at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Wednesday.
• snow level  6,000 ft. Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night, 3,500 ft. Monday, 4,500 ft. Monday night, free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Tuesday, 9,000 ft. Tuesday night, then snow level 8,000 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 42-49  cooling to 47 Wednesday lows 25-30.

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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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