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 8 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 11 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 11 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 showers likely (70%) this evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening (0.25 in. of rain possible, small hail possible), showers late Monday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) Tuesday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of showers at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Thickening  clouds and a bit warmer Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night.
• lows 46-42 highs 53-57.
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Then a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Sunday.
  highs 56-62 lows 39-42. (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 a (30%) chance of evening showers, showers likely (70%) late tonight (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Monday AM, showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon (0.60 in. of rain possible), showers Monday night (0.45 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.),
• AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), showers likely (70%) Tuesday afternoon (0.30 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. rising to 3,500 ft.), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night.
• lows 45-39 warming to 42 Wednesday night highs 55-62.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night through Saturday night,
• Then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs 60-64 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 showers likely (70%) and a slight (20%) chance of coastal thunderstorms this evening, coastal showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late tonight while inland showers likely (60%) this evening, showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with coastal rain and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday AM while AM inland rain and inland showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms a bit cooler Monday afternoon (0.80 in. of rain possible), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms at the shore Monday night while evening inland showers likely (70%) and inland showers late at night (0.45 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, showers likely (70%) Tuesday afternoon, a (30%) chance of showers at night,
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday, then a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night.
• lows 49-44 warming to 48 Wednesday night highs 55-57.
• A (30%) chance of rain Thursday, just mostly cloudy and colder at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday, a (30%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy Saturday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday.
• highs near 56 lows 42-46. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and colder tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Monday (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-4 in. of snow possible), showers at night (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-4 in. of snow possible),
• Showers Tuesday, then a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Thickening clouds  and a bit cooler Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain at night.
• snow level 6,000 ft. falling to 4,500 ft. tonight and Monday, 4,000 ft. Monday night, 3,500 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Wednesday, then snow level 5,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• lows 32-25 warming to 28 Wednesday highs 42-39.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Thursday, a (30%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• A (40%) chance of showers Friday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of  showers Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Saturday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday.
• snow level 5,500 ft. Thursday, 5,500 ft. Thursday night, 5,000 ft. Friday, 4,000 ft. Friday night, free air freezing level  6,500 ft. Saturday, then snow level 6,500 ft. Saturday night and Sunday.
• highs 39-44 lows 27-30.

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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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