Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What are “Sastrugi?” 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 low (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) brings onshore airflow and increased chances of wet weather. A surface frontal system returns cooler air and the chance of showers. High pressure takes over for a dry and warmer weekend then by next Sunday another frontal system will be moving through the Pacific Northwest returning cooler temperatures and precipitation.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 20 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 15 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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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 the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Increasing clouds to mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of  scattered showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers at night (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a showers likely (70%) Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then just mostly cloudy late at night.
• lows 53-45 highs 68-62.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Friday, partly cloudy Friday night through Sunday night, then AM clouds and a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Monday afternoon.
• highs 70-76 cooling back to 70 Monday lows 46-48 cooling to 44 Sunday night. (seasonal averages high 64 low 41).

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (6)

Trees………. Moderate (38)

Last Counted: 4/26/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a (20%) chance of AM showers, a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Tuesday night through Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night.
• lows 50-45 highs 70-60.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Partly cloudy a bit warmer Saturday and Saturday night,
• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Sunday, then just partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday.
• highs 70-76 cooling back to 70 Monday lows 47-50 cooling to 46 Sunday night. (seasonal averages high 67 low 45).

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

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms this evening, a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Tuesday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers in the evening, showers likely (60%) late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Wednesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of coastal showers while inland showers likely (70%) Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Thursday, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night.
• lows 52-46 highs 59-56.
• Just mostly cloudy Friday, then partly cloudy Friday night through Monday.
• highs 60-64 cooling back to 60 Sunday and Monday lows 48-52 cooling back to 48 Sunday night. (seasonal averages high 57 low 45)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms this evening, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, more in storms),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a bit cooler with a showers likely (70%) and  a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible, more in storms), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers Wednesday, cloudy with showers likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday, then a (30%) chance of showers Thursday night.
• snow level 9,000 ft. tonight and Tuesday, above 8,000 ft. Tuesday night,  8,000 ft. Wednesday and Wednesday night, then 7,500 ft. Thursday and Thursday night.
• lows 42-35 highs 59-48.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday, 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 Saturday, then partly cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday night through Monday
• snow level 8,000 ft. Friday, 9,000 ft. Friday night, then free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Saturday through Monday.
• highs 56-62 lows 40-42.

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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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