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 frontal system will be moving onshore on Wednesday increasing rain chances and possibly producing thunderstorms.  Another frontal system heads our way Friday. By Monday we’ll have yet another frontal system pushing through the Pacific Northwest.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 35 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 23 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 28 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 with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit cooler this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain, showers late Wednesday night (0.40 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, then a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night.
• highs 60-55 lows 43-45.
• 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, then mostly sunny and a bit warmer Saturday, Sunday and Monday, just partly cloudy at night.
• highs 62-76 lows 40-46. (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 today and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain, showers (0.25 in. of rain possible, more in storms) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late Wednesday night,
• 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.
• highs 62-65 cooling to 57 Thursday lows near 44.
• Mostly cloudy Friday and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers, just mostly cloudy Friday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Monday.
• highs 65-82 cooling to 79 Monday lows 43-47. (seasonal averages high 61 low 41).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal rain and showers likely (70%) this afternoon while a good (50%) of inland showers and a bit warmer this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a (40%) of showers tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, coastal showers likely (60%) and a bit warmer in the afternoon while inland afternoon rain likely (70%), evening rain (0.15 in. of rain possible), showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms (0.70 in. of rain possible, more in storms) and breezy Wednesday night (Wind: SW 15-25 mph gusts to 40 mph in the evening),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday, showers likely (60%) in the evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night.
• highs 58-55 lows near 46.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday, mostly cloudy at night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday, mostly cloudy Sunday night,
• Then partly cloudy Monday.
• highs 58-64 lows 46-50. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun today, a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow this afternoon, cloudy with showers likely (60%) this evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, rain or snow in the evening, showers late Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Thursday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) Thursday night.
• snow level 8,000 ft. falling to 5,500 ft. today, 5,000 ft. tonight, 4,500 ft. Wednesday, 4,000 ft. Wednesday night, 3,500 ft. Thursday, then 4,000 ft. Thursday night.
• highs 52-38 lows 30-27.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday, just partly cloudy Friday night through Saturday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Sunday, then partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Friday, free air freezing level 5,500 ft. Friday night, 7,500 ft. Saturday, 9,000 ft. Saturday night, 11,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, then 10,000 ft. Monday.
• highs 44-62 cooling to 59 Monday lows 30-42.

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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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