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 Saturday night Spring officially began.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 26 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 20 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 23 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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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Low (2)

Trees………. Very High (556)

Last Counted: 4/18/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain this AM, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening showers likely (70%) with a slight chance of thunderstorms, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (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.
• highs 57-52 lows 45-40.
• 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 56-59 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:

• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) this AM, afternoon showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms (0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (60%) tonight (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), rain likely (70%) in the evening, rain Monday night (0.15 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft.),
• Showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Tuesday (snow level 3,000 ft.), then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night.
• highs 62-55 lows 45-40.
• 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 40).

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

• Mostly cloudy with rain this AM, showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.40 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SE 5-10 mph shifting and increasing to S 20-30 mph in the afternoon), showers with a slight (20%) chance of coastal thunderstorms tonight while inland showers likely (60%) tonight (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 evening inland rain likely (70%) and inland rain late at night (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.
• highs 59-53 lows 48-44.
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• A (30%) chance of rain Thursday, just mostly cloudy and colder at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers 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 rain this AM, showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and colder tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow showers Monday (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-4 in. of snow possible) through Tuesday, then a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday night.
• snow level 7,500 ft. today, 5,000 ft. tonight, 4,500 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night and Tuesday, then 3,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• highs 47-35 lows 32-25.
• 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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