Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “Return Stroke?” Here is the correct answer. A Return Stroke is an electrical discharge that propagates upward along a lightning channel from the ground to the cloud. 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) will slowly weaken, tilt to the northwest and move eastward allowing an upper level low (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) to move toward the Pacific Northwest. A surface frontal system is on its way to us now. A frontal system will be located offshore on Wednesday morning ready to move in. Another frontal system heads our way Friday. By next weekend we’ll have yet another frontal system bearing down on us.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 9 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 18 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………. Moderate (6)

Trees………. Very High (637)

Last Counted: 4/07/16

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:

• Partly cloudy this evening, becoming mostly cloudy late tonight and Monday (a bit warmer), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Monday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Wednesday, then rain likely (70%) Wednesday night.
• lows 43-46 cooling back to 43 Wednesday night highs 65-55.
• Mostly cloudy with showers Thursday, a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday and Saturday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun Sunday.
• highs 56-65 lows 40-43. (seasonal averages high 60 low 39).

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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 tonight and Monday (a bit warmer), cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Tuesday and a bit cooler with showers a (40%) chance of showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening showers, showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon, then rain Wednesday night.
• lows 45-47 cooling to 43 Wednesday night highs 68-63.
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Thursday, showers likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy Friday and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday and at night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Sunday.
• highs 54-75 lows near 44. (seasonal averages high 61 low 41).

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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, mostly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday, a slight (20%) chance of showers late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal rain, showers likely (60%) and a bit warmer Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible)and Wednesday (a bit warmer), then rain and breezy Wednesday night.
• lows 46-48 cooling to back to 46 Wednesday night highs 57-60.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers Thursday, showers likely (60%) Thursday night,
• A (30%)  chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday and Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy Sunday.
• highs 54-63 lows 46-48. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly clear this evening, becoming mostly cloudy late tonight,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Monday with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of  showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy a good (50%) chance of AM showers, then rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• free air freezing level 9,000 ft. tonight, snow level above 8,000 ft. Monday and Monday night, 6,000 ft. Tuesday, 5,000 ft. Tuesday night, 4,000 ft. Wednesday, then 4500 ft. Wednesday night.
• lows 35-27 highs 59-44.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, rain and snow showers likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday,
• snow level 3,500 ft. Thursday, 4,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday, 5,000 ft. Friday night, then free air freezing level 7,000 ft. Saturday, 9,000 ft. Saturday night, then 11,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 40-53 lows 27-35.

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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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