Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “Ribbon Lightning?” Here is the correct answer. Ribbon Lightning Appears to be a broad stream of fire. A succession of strokes, each blown a bit to the side of the previous strokes by wind, but striking so fast that all the strokes are seen at once as a ribbon-like flash. 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) is getting stronger and moving over us for a rather rapid warmup to what should reach record high temperatures. By Monday we’ll have a frontal system poised offshore moving our way bringing the chance of showers and thunderstorms out ahead of and long it. By early Wednesday the frontal system moves onshore bringing showers with it. As you can see a frontal system hangs offshore on its way to the Pacific Coast next Friday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 17 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 5 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 19 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 (4)

Trees………. Very High (365)

Last Counted: 4/13/16

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 tonight,
• Mostly sunny and warmer Sunday and Monday, mostly clear both nights,
• Mostly sunny and a bit cooler Tuesday, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday night.
• lows 43-49 highs 83-78.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• A (40%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday night and Friday (a bit cooler), a (40%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 69-60 lows 50-46. (seasonal averages high 61 low 40).

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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:

• Partly cloudy tonight,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Sunday, clear Sunday night,
• Sunny and a bit cooler Monday, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Monday night,
• AM sun, partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, then a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday night.
• lows 47-52 cooling to 50 Tuesday night highs 89-80.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday and Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday night, showers likely (60%) Thursday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with  showers likely (60%) and a bit cooler Friday, a (40%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Then cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 70-58 lows 49-47. (seasonal averages high 62 low 42).

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

• Partly cloudy tonight and Sunday AM, sunny and warmer Sunday afternoon and Monday, clear Sunday night, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy late Monday night,
• AM sun, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Tuesday, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night.
• lows 48-53 cooling to 52 Tuesday night highs 75-64.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday and Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday night, showers likely (60%) Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Friday and Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Friday night.
• highs 62-55 lows 50-48. (seasonal averages high 55 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly sunny and warmer Sunday and Monday, mostly clear both nights,
• AM sun, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms and cooler Tuesday afternoon, then a (40%) chance of showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday night.
• free air freezing level 11,000 ft. tonight, 12,000 ft. Sunday 13,000 ft. Sunday night, 12,000 ft. Monday and Monday night, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night.
• lows 35-42 cooling to 40 Tuesday night highs 69-72 cooling to 63 Tuesday.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Thursday, showers likely (70%) Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday night and Saturday (a bit cooler).
• snow level 8,000 ft. Wednesday, 7,500 ft. Wednesday night, 7,000 ft. Thursday and Thursday night, 5,500 ft. and Friday night, then 5,000 ft. Saturday.
• highs 55-45 lows 38-34.

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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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