Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is a “Ribbon Lightning?” 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 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 15 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 25 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 (938)

Last Counted: 4/09/16

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 today with some peeks of sun this afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of patchy drizzle or light rain late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday, then rain Wednesday night.
• highs near 60 lows 44-42.
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night,
• AM clouds, a mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday, just partly cloudy Friday night,
• AM clouds, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Saturday afternoon, partly cloudy at night,
• Then AM clouds and mostly sunny and warmer Sunday.
• highs 55-74 lows 42-44. (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:

• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers this afternoon and tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy Tuesday and a bit cooler with showers a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening showers, showers likely (70%) late Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon, rain and a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late Wednesday night.
• highs 66-60 warming to 64 Wednesday lows 47-43.
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday, showers likely (70%) in the evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late 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 through Sunday.
• highs 55-79 lows 44-46 cooling to 46 Saturday night. (seasonal averages high 61 low 41).

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer today, a slight (20%) chance of evening coastal showers while a slight (20%) chance of inland showers tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal showers and showers likely (70%) in the afternoon while a good (50%) of inland showers and a bit warmer Tuesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, showers likely (70%) and a bit warmer in the afternoon, then showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and breezy Wednesday night.
• highs 57-60 lows 48-46.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and breezy Thursday, showers likely (60%) in the evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late 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 patchy AM fog and partly cloudy Sunday.
• highs 54-65 lows 47-45 warming to 49 Saturday night. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler today, more clouds to mostly cloudy late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Tuesday, showers likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, then rain or snow Wednesday night.
• snow level above 10,000 ft. today and tonight, 8,000 ft. falling to 5,000 ft. Tuesday, 5,000 ft. Tuesday night, 4,000 ft. Wednesday, then 4,500 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 59-52 lows 35-28.
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and snow, rain and snow showers and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday, just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• AM clouds, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Saturday, partly cloudy at night,
• AM clouds, then mostly sunny Sunday,
• snow level 3,500 ft. Thursday, 4,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday, free air freezing level 6,500 ft. Friday night, 7,500 ft. Saturday, 10,000 ft. Saturday night, then 11,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 38-56 lows 28-37.

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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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