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 parade of frontal systems push through increasing rain chances and possibly producing thunderstorms.  Another frontal system heads our way Saturday. By Monday we’ll have yet another frontal system pushing through the Pacific Northwest. Continuing the trend yet another frontal system approaches from the Southwest by Tuesday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 15 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 8 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).

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Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT THROUGH 10 PM THURSDAY ABOVE 5,500 FT. FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTH OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM UNTIL 5 PM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (9)

Trees………. Very High (535)

Last Counted: 4/12/16

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 showers, some sun breaks with a good (50%) chance of showers by late this afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain, showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (0.35 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers late Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Friday and Friday night.
• highs 62-55 warming to 60 Friday lows 42-40.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• highs 66-79 cooling back to 66 Tuesday lows 44-48 cooling back to 44 Monday night. (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 with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler today (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 tonight (snow level 3,500 ft. late tonight),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and cooler Thursday (snow level 3,000 ft. rising to 3,500 ft.), a good (50%) chance of showers at night (snow level 3,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday AM (snow level 3,500 ft., then just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon and Friday night.
• highs 65-55 warming back to 65 Friday lows 44-42.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler Monday, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 76-86 cooling back to 80 Tuesday lows 46-50 cooling back to 46 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 62 low 42).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers this AM, a (30%) chance of afternoon rain while a slight (20%) chance of inland showers today, and breezy (Wind: S 10-15 mph increasing to S 15-25 mph by late afternoon) , 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 windy tonight (Wind: S 25-25 mph decreasing to S 20-30 mph by late evening at the shore while S 15-25 mph inland),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph at the shore while W 10-20 mph inland), a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Friday afternoon and at night.
• highs 59-55 warming back to 59 Friday lows 46-43 warming back to 46 Friday night.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday, mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 66-72 cooling to 64 Monday and Tuesday lows near 50. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler today (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain and snow this evening, rain and snow showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Thursday (0.75 in. of rain possible, 3-7 in. of snow possible) and Thursday night, decreasing to a (40%) chance of showers late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of  AM rain and snow showers Friday, just clouds and sun in the afternoon, then just partly cloudy Friday night.
• snow level 4,500 ft. rising to 5,000 ft. this afternoon, 5,000 ft. falling to 3,500 ft. late tonight, 3,000 ft. Thursday, 3,500 ft. Thursday night, 3,000 ft. Friday AM, then free air freezing level 8,000 ft. Friday night.
• highs 45-36 warming to 44 Friday lows near 28.
• Partly cloudy and warmer Saturday through Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then partly cloudy and cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday.
• free air freezing level 7,500 ft. Saturday, 9,000 ft. Saturday night, 10,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, snow level above 8,000 ft. Monday and Monday night, then 7,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 55-66 cooling back to 55 Tuesday lows 37-42.

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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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