Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is  the “Photosphere?” Here is the correct answer. The Photosphere is the intensely bright portion of the sun visible to the unaided eye; the “surface” of the sun. Reaching temperatures estimated at about 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit, it is the portion of the sun’s atmosphere which emits continuous electromagnetic radiation. 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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An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has been in charge, but an upper level low is taking over returning the chance of rain. A weak cold front is is moving in, but is falling apart as it hits the coast. By Monday a frontal System will have moved eastward away from us and another cold front will be approaching the coast. Another frontal system will swoop down from the northwest.

Note: With the Vernal Equinox at 10:30 PM tonight Spring officially begins.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 37 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 30 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 34 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:

• A mix of clouds and sun with clouds increasing to mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and cooler this afternoon, a (40%) chance of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with rain Sunday (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), showers late Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday afternoon (small hail possible), then showers likely (70%) at night.
• highs 58-52 lows 49-42.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) Tuesday, a (40%) chance of showers with patchy fog late Tuesday night,
• A (30%) chance of showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 53-56 cooling to 54 Friday lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 57 low 37).

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN – Burning is Allowed.

Oakridge: GREEN – Burning 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:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler this afternoon, a (30%) chance of showers this evening, a (30%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and afternoon showers and a bit cooler Sunday (0.25 in. of rain possible), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the evening, showers late at night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and Monday AM, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, then showers likely (70%) Monday night.
• highs 65-57 lows 48-40.
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday, a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, just mostly cloudy Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night and Friday.
• highs 56-60 cooling back to 56 Friday lows 40-42. (seasonal averages high 58 low 40).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit cooler this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a (30%) chance of showers this evening, a (30%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday AM, showers and a bit warmer in the afternoon (0.40 in. of rain possible), showers with a slight (20%) chance of coastal thunderstorms while evening showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms inland in the evening, showers late Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms at the shore while AM inland showers and showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms a bit cooler inland Monday afternoon, then showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday night.
• highs 57-60 cooling to 55 Monday lows 48-44.
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday, a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• A (30%) chance of rain Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night and Friday.
• highs near 55 lows near 45. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun today, becoming cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, a (40%) chance of showers late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit cooler Sunday, cloudy with rain and snow showers and colder Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Monday and Monday night.
• snow level 7,500 ft. today, above 8,000 ft. tonight, 7,000 ft. Sunday, 5,500 ft. Sunday night, 5,000 ft. Monday, then 3,500 ft. Monday night.
• highs 54-38 lows 36-26.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow showers Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow and a bit warmer Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Friday.
• snow level 3,500 ft. Tuesday, 4,000 ft. Tuesday night, 3,500 ft. Wednesday, 4,500 ft. Wednesday night and Thursday, 5,000 ft. Thursday night, then 4,500 ft. Friday.
• highs 34-40 cooling to 37 Friday lows 26-28.

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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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