Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What are “Sastrugi?” Here is the correct answer. Sastrugi are ridges of snow formed on a snow field by the action of the wind. 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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As the upper level low (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) to the south slides away to the east a high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) over us will move away letting another low to take over returning the chance of showers. A frontal system (shown to the NW over the ocean) will be sliding through the Pacific Northwest  Sunday, but it looks quite dry and should only cool us off with a slight chance of precipitation for Mother’s Day. Next Saturday a frontal system will come in through the “back door” which means it moves from northeast to southwest across the Pacific Northwest.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 45 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 14 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 44 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:

• Clear this evening, increasing clouds to cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of light rain or occasional drizzle late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM light rain or occasional drizzle, just mostly cloudy and  much cooler Sunday afternoon (Mother’s Day), partly cloudy Sunday night and Monday, mostly clear Monday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Tuesday, then mostly clear at night.
• lows 50-43 warming to 46 Tuesday night highs 64-77.
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Wednesday and Thursday,  mostly clear Wednesday night, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday AM, a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers late Friday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 90-69 lows 46-52. (seasonal averages high 66 low 42.)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (12)

Trees………. Moderate (55)

Last Counted: 5/06/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly clear this evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of light rain or drizzle late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM light rain and drizzle, partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of light rain and drizzle Sunday afternoon (Mother’s Day), partly cloudy at night,
• AM clouds, mostly sunny and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, mostly clear Monday night,
• Sunny and a bit warmer Tuesday, then clear at night.
• lows 53-44 highs 82-69 warming to 72 Monday.
• Sunny and a bit warmer Wednesday, mostly clear Wednesday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit cooler Thursday, partly cloudy at night,
• Partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Friday and a bit cooler, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Friday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday.
• highs 85-89 cooling back to 85 Friday lows near 50. (seasonal averages high 68 low 46).

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

• Becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of light rain or drizzle late tonight and Sunday AM, partly cloudy Sunday afternoon (Mother’s Day) and Sunday night,
• Then sunny and a bit warmer Monday and Tuesday, mostly clear at night.
• lows 52-46 warming back to 52 Tuesday night highs 60-72.
• Sunny Wednesday, mostly clear at night,
• Mostly sunny and cooler Thursday, mostly clear at night,
• Partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit warmer Friday, cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms at night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Saturday.
• highs 72-62 warming to 64 Friday and Saturday lows 50-52. (seasonal averages high 58 low 46)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers and thunderstorms, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of light rain or drizzle late tonight,
• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM light rain or occasional drizzle, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday afternoon (Mother’s Day), partly cloudy and colder at night,
• Partly cloudy Monday AM, mostly sunny and a bit warmer in the afternoon, mostly clear Monday night,
• Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Tuesday, then clear at night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. tonight and Sunday, free air freezing level 12,000 ft. falling to 9,000 ft. late Sunday night, 9,000 ft. rising to 10,000 ft. Monday afternoon, 10,000 ft. Monday night, 10,000 ft. rising to 11,000 ft. Tuesday, then 11,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• lows 38-33 warming to 38 Tuesday night highs 52-68.
• Mostly sunny and a bit cooler Wednesday and Thursday, mostly clear Wednesday night, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Thursday night,
• Partly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM showers, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Friday with a (40%) chance of showers in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Friday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday.
• free air freezing level 11,000 ft. Wednesday, 12,000 ft. Wednesday night and Thursday, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Thursday night through Saturday.
• highs 66-58 lows 40-45.

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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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