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 fell apart as it hit 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 43 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 12 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 25 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:

• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of occasional sprinkles this evening, a (40%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday afternoon (0.40 in. of rain possible, small hail possible), showers Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) and Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night.
• lows 49-42 highs 57-52.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• A good (50%) chance of rain Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night through Friday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 53-56 cooling to 54 Friday lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 57 low 38).

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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:

• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers this evening, a (40%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, afternoon showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Sunday (0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (60%) at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers Monday AM, showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) Monday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night.
• lows 49-40 highs 62-45.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Wednesday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• A slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday, just mostly cloudy Thursday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday and Saturday (warmer), just partly cloudy Friday night.
• highs 59-63 lows 42-38. (seasonal averages high 58 low 39).

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

• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers this evening, a (40%) chance of rain tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Sunday AM, showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.40 in. of rain possible), showers with a slight (20%) chance of coastal thunderstorms at night while inland showers likely (60%) 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 with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms a bit cooler inland Monday afternoon (0.80 in. of rain possible), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms at the shore Monday night while showers likely (70%) inland (0.45 in. of rain possible),
• Showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night.
• lows 49-44 highs 59-53.
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• A (30%) chance of rain Thursday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• Then just partly cloudy Friday through Saturday.
• highs 56-58 lows 45-42. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening sprinkles, a (40%) chance of rain late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit cooler Sunday (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and colder Sunday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow showers Monday through Tuesday, then a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. tonight, 7,000 ft. Sunday, 5,500 ft. Sunday night, 4,500 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night and Tuesday, then 3,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• lows 37-25 highs 47-35.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, a just mostly cloudy 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 and Friday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday.
• snow level 3,000 ft. Wednesday, free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Wednesday night, snow level 5,500 ft. Thursday, 5,000 ft. Thursday night, 4,500 ft. Friday, 5,000 ft. Friday night, then 5,500 ft. Saturday.
• highs 38-45 lows near 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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