Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is  “Radar Reflectivity?” 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.

________________

An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has moved over and an upper level low pressure trough (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) is taking over increasing the chance of rain. A frontal system will be marching across Oregon Thursday. Another frontal system will swoop down from the northwest.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 16 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 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

________________

Advisories: None At This Time.

________________

Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Low (2)

Trees………. Very High (566)

Last Counted: 4/18/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening (0.25 in. of rain possible, more in storms, small hail possible), showers tonight decreasing late tonight (0.25 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),
• Moistly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night.
• highs 53-58 lows near 42.
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday, partly cloudy with 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).

_____

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).

___________________

Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and a slight (20%) chance of isolated thunderstorms this AM, showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon (0.60 in. of rain possible), showers this evening, rain or snow showers late tonight (0.45 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. late),
• AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), showers 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, snow level 3,500 ft.),
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain at night.
• highs 54-62 lows near 42.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday, then a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night through Sunday.
• highs 59-62 lows near 44. (seasonal averages high 58 low 40).

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with coastal rain and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this AM while AM inland rain and inland showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms a bit cooler this afternoon (0.80 in. of rain possible), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms at the shore tonight 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.
• highs 54-58 cooling to 56 Wednesday lows 44-48.
• A (30%) chance of rain Thursday, mostly cloudy and colder with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday, a (30%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Just mostly cloudy Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night and Sunday.
• highs 54-58 cooling to 56 Sunday lows 45-47. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42).

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers, a bit cooler with  a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible), showers tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Rain and snow showers Tuesday (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible), then a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday night,
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain at night.
• snow level 4,500 ft. today, 4,000 ft. tonight, 3,500 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, free air freezing level 5,000 ft. Wednesday, then snow level 5,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 42-39 warming back to 42 Wednesday lows 26-28.
• 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 at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Sunday.
• snow level 5,500 ft. Thursday, 5,000 ft. Thursday night, 4,000 ft. and 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.

________________

**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.

________________

Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at eugenedailynews.com.

________________