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.

________________

There will be a short break as a weak short-lived high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) slides in for your Wednesday. An upper level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows in previous graphic) replaces the high pressure. Then rain returns as a frontal system will be marching across Oregon Wednesday night and early Thursday. By Saturday a frontal system will be poised offshore ready to move in by nightfall. With some luck the precipitation might stop for at least part of Easter Sunday.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 12 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 10 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 16 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 (0)

Trees………. High (159)

Last Counted: 3/23/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer today, some sun breaks, with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers, rain developing tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• A good (50%) chance of AM showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, a (40%) chance of showers at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Friday (0.10 in. of rain possible), then just partly cloudy Friday night.
• highs 60-55 lows 44-38.
• More clouds to mostly cloudy and warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday afternoon, mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Saturday night,
• A good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Easter Sunday, a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Tuesday.
• highs 58-54 warming back to 58 Tuesday lows 42-37. (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 today, mostly cloudy with rain developing tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A (40%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, AM snow level 3,500 ft.), a slight (20%) chance of showers late Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), then just mostly cloudy Friday night.
• highs 65-56 lows 45-38.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Saturday, a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Easter Sunday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers at night and Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday.
• highs 63-55 warming to 60 Tuesday lows 42-38. (seasonal averages high 59 low 40).

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy today with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon coastal showers, rain tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• A (40%) chance of showers and cooler Thursday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy and colder with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), then just mostly cloudy Friday night.
• highs 58-55 lows 47-43.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday with a (30%) chance of rain, rain likely (60%) Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Easter Sunday through Monday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday and a bit warmer.
• highs 58-53 warming back to 58 Tuesday lows 45-40. (seasonal averages high 54 low 42).

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer today, rain and snow tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM snow showers, a bit warmer with a rain and snow showers likely (60%) Friday, then decreasing clouds to just partly cloudy Friday night.
• free air freezing level 4,000 ft. rising to 5,500 ft. this afternoon, snow level 5,500 ft. tonight, 3,500 ft. Thursday, 4,000 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. Thursday night, 2,500 ft. Friday, then free air freezing level 4,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 40-36 warming to 40 Friday lows 28-25.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday afternoon, more clouds to mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Mostly cloudy and colder with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Easter Sunday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit warmer Monday, then a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Saturday AM, snow level 6,500 ft. Saturday afternoon, 3,500 ft. Saturday night, 4,500 ft. Sunday, 3,500 ft. Sunday night, 3,000 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 45-34 warming back to 40 Tuesday lows 30-24.

________________

**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.

________________