Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is  “Rime Ice?” 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 trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) moves closer increasing the marine airflow for more clouds and cooler temperatures. There were showers and thunderstorms in Oregon Wednesday but they stayed well North of the Southern Willamette Valley. The Eugene area saw smoke Wednesday from a Slash/Burn in Douglas County. It was particularly strong in South Eugene. A frontal system is heading our way bringing showers and possible thunderstorms with it. A  frontal system is shown approaching the coast bringing increasing chances of rain to the Pacific Northwest. Next week another frontal system approaches the West Coast.

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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 33 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).

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Advisories: None At This Time.

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (11)

Trees………. Very High (634)

Last Counted: 4/20/16

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:

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler today, becoming mostly cloudy with showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening, showers late tonight (0.75 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and a bit cooler Friday (0.25 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms, a good (50%) chance of showers late Friday night (0.10 in. of rain possible) and Saturday, then showers likely (70%) Saturday night.
• highs 72-60 lows 52-46.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers Sunday, a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers Monday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 56-60 lows 37-45. (seasonal averages high 62 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 early, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers this afternoon, showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening, showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible) and Friday AM, showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms, a (30%) chance of showers Friday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday afternoon and evening, then showers likely (60%) late at night.
• highs 73-60 lows 50-46.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (60%) Sunday AM, showers likely with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, a (30%) chance of evening showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms, a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers late Sunday night,
• A (40%) chance of rain and snow showers in the AM, a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of showers Monday afternoon and at night,
• A slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday (a bit cooler).
• highs 58-62 cooling back to 59 Wednesday lows 40-44. (seasonal averages high 63 low 43).

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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 today, evening showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms, showers late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), a (40%) chance of showers at night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Saturday, then showers likely (70%) Saturday night.
• highs 64-57 lows 52-48.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Sunday AM, showers likely (70%) with a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms, a (30%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of evening thunderstorms, a (40%) chance of showers Sunday night and Monday (a bit warmer), mostly cloudy cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night and  Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 54-58 cooling to 56 lows 44-47. (seasonal averages high 56 low 43).

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• AM sun, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms and a bit cooler this afternoon, a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening, showers likely (70%) tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible, more in storms),
• Mostly cloudy with showers Friday AM, rain and snow showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler in the afternoon, rain and snow showers likely (60%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, then rain and snow showers likely (70%) at night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. today, above 8,000 ft. falling to 7,500 ft. late tonight, 6,500 ft. falling to 5,000 ft. Friday afternoon, then 4,500 ft. Friday night through Saturday night.
• highs 62-47 lows 38-32.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Sunday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday, partly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit warmer Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Sunday, 3,500 ft. Sunday night, 3,000 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night and Tuesday, then 4,500 ft. Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 38-48 cooling to 45 Wednesday lows 24-32.

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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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