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.

________________

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.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 17 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

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

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA).

________________

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 UNTIL 5 PM THURSDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.

________________

Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (9)

Trees………. Very High (535)

Last Counted: 4/12/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with 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 (0.50 in. of rain possible, more in storms), showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, a slight (20%) chance of showers late Thursday night (0.10 in. of rain possible, more possible in storms),
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Friday and in the evening, then partly cloudy Friday night through Saturday night (warmer Saturday).
• lows 42-39 warming to 44 Saturday night highs 56-72.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Sunday through Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy and cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday, a (40%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 80-66 lows 48-44. (seasonal averages high 60 low 39).

_____

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 with showers (0.25 in. of rain possible, more in storms) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms tonight (snow level 3,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and cooler Thursday (0.50 in. of rain possible, 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.),  just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon and Friday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday and Saturday night.
• lows 44-42 highs 65-55 warming back to 65 Friday.
• Partly cloudy Sunday through Monday, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday, then a (%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 76-86 cooling back to 80 Tuesday lows 46-50 cooling back to 46 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 62 low 42).

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms (0.60 in. of rain possible, more in storms) and breezy tonight (Wind: SW 20-30 mph decreasing to SW 10-15 mph by late evening shifting to S 10-15 mph late this evening at the shore while S 20 mph shifting to SW 15-25 mph inland late this evening, gusts to 40 mph),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday (0.50 in. of rain possible) and breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph), a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal showers Friday while a slight (20%) chance of AM inland showers and just partly cloudy inland and a bit warmer Friday afternoon, mostly cloudy at night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday and Saturday night.
• lows 48-44 warming back to 48 Saturday night highs 54-65.
• Partly cloudy and warmer Sunday, mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday (cooler), a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers  a bit coolerTuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 76-60 lows 50-48. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow this evening, rain and snow showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 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 evening, a (40%) chance of rain and snow 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 partly cloudy Friday night through Saturday night.
• snow level 5,000 ft. falling to 3,500 ft. late tonight, 3,000 ft. Thursday, 3,500 ft. Thursday night, 3,000 ft. Friday AM, free air freezing level 8,000 ft. Friday night, then 10,000 ft. Saturday and Saturday night.
• lows 28-37 highs 36-56.
• Mostly sunny Sunday, partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and cooler Tuesday, partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Sunday through Monday, snow level above 8,000 ft. Monday night, 7,500 ft. Tuesday, 8,000 ft. Tuesday night, then 6,500 ft. Wednesday.
• highs 66-54 lows near 40.

________________

**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.

________________