Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “SKYWARN?”  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) moved away from us. It’s a bit like a roller coaster as  high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) has returned, but low pressure returns by late today as a frontal system approaches the Pacific Northwest from the northwest increasing our rain chances by tonight. Sunday brings another frontal system in through Northern California.

Note: On this date in 1980 at 8:30 am Mt. St. Helens started its modern eruption phase with a large pyroclastic explosion that killed 58 people and covered much of Washington and Oregon with volcanic ash.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 37 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 31 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:

• A mix of clouds and sun this afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers,  a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday AM, cooler with showers likely (70%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening (0.15 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening, then  showers likely (70%) late Friday night.
• highs 72-60 lows near 47.
• AM showers likely (70%) Saturday, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of showers in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday night through Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday, then cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs near 65 lows 47-50. (seasonal averages high 68 low 44.)

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Eugene-Springfield Pollen Count:

Grass………. Moderate (72)

Trees………. Low (12)

Last Counted: 5/17/16

Data Courtesy of Oregon Allergy Associates.

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy this AM, partly cloudy and a bit cooler this afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers tonight (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and cooler with showers likely (60%) Thursday afternoon (0.15 in. of rain possible), cloudy with showers likely (70%) in the evening,  a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and warmer with showers likely (60%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Friday and Friday night.
• highs 76-60 warming to 64 Friday lows 50-45.
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers likely (60%), then a (30%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, then cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Monday through Tuesday.
• highs 67-70 cooling to 68 Monday and Tuesday lows 47-50. (seasonal averages high 71 low 48).

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

• Mostly cloudy this AM, partly cloudy this afternoon, becoming mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of evening coastal showers and showers likely (70%) late tonight while a (30%) chance of inland showers at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal showers, showers likely (60%) and cooler with coastal showers in the afternoon Thursday (0.15 in. of rain possible) and Thursday night (0.15 in. of rain possible),
• Then mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Friday and Friday night.
• highs 62-56 warming to 59 Friday lows near 50.
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers likely (70%), a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of showers Saturday through Sunday night,
• Then cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Monday through Tuesday.
• highs near 62 lows near 52. (seasonal averages high 59 low 47)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers this afternoon, mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers likely (70%) and colder with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon, cloudy with evening rain and snow showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Thursday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening, then rain and snow showers likely (70%) late Friday night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. today, 7,500 ft. tonight, then 4,500 ft. Thursday through Friday, then 5,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 63-43 lows 34-32.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit warmer Saturday afternoon and evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late Saturday night through Sunday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of showers Monday through Tuesday.
• snow level 5,500 ft. Saturday,  6,500 ft. Saturday night, 6,000 ft. Sunday, 6,500 ft. Sunday night,  6,000 ft. Monday, 7,000 ft. Monday night, then 6,500 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 48-50 lows near 35.

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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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