Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is an “Algorithm?” Here is the correct answer. An Algorithm is a computer program (or set of programs) which is designed to systematically solve a certain kind of problem. WSR-88D radars (NEXRAD) employ algorithms to analyze radar data and automatically determine storm motion, probability of hail, VIL, accumulated rainfall, and several other parameters. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. Please remember to post your answer at the bottom of this page. An email will not suffice. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized weather forecasts tailored to your needs.  Good luck.

________________

An upper level low pressure trough (Shaded “U” shape area with blue arrows) is sending more storms our way.  The Days 1,2 & 3 graphic shows the front that moved through backs up to keep the rain coming. The graphic for days 3-7 shows the next series of fronts that we will see approaching. There will be snow on the Cascade Passes for through the weekend, BUT Willamette Pass and Hoodoo ski areas will not be open. I’d say they need two good snow storms to produce the approximately 30 inches of snow they need to open. Drive carefully! If you need to travel the passes remember this is the first real snow of the season and you will have to be prepared to chain-up if necessary.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 24 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 18 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 22 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA).

________________

Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Eugene-Springfield: Green – Burning is allowed.

Oakridge: Yellow – Green – Burning is allowed.

*Note: Pellet stoves may be used anytime if they produce no visible emissions.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

________________

Advisories:

• A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE LUCKIAMUTE RIVER NEAR SUVER AND THE S. YAMHIL RIVER AT MCMINNVILLE
• A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES  AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING UNTIL 10 AM SUNDAY ABOVE 3,000 FT. FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS , AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON UNTIL 10 AM SUNDAY ABOVE 4,000 FT. FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTH OREGON CASCADES AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM TODAY UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND CENTRAL, EASTERN AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A Permanent Health Advisory remains for the South Umpqua River and Lawson Bar. Pools in the bedrock along the rivers edge are known to develop Blue-green Algae (cyanobacterial) blooms that can be harmful to pets and people if accidental ingestion occurs. Signs have been posted along several access areas along the river.
• A Blue-Green Algae Health Advisory remains in effect for Agency Lake. Agency Lake is located just north of Upper Klamath Lake near Klamath Falls along Highway 97 in Klamath County. Water monitoring on the lake has confirmed the presence of high levels of blue-green algae and associated toxins that can be harmful to people and animals. Swallowing water while swimming or inhaling water droplets as a result of high-speed water activities, such as water skiing and power boating, should be avoided in areas where blooms are identified. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, contact with cells from a bloom can cause skin irritation and a red, puffy rash in individuals with skin sensitivities, or those who develop rashes easily.

________________

 

Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• Patchy AM fog and a good (50%) chance of rain, rain and a bit cooler this afternoon, evening showers (0.50 in. of rain possible), showers tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Sunday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain in the afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain, showers likely (70%) late Sunday night (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers  and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening showers, then a slight (20%) chance of showers late Monday night.
• highs 50-52 lows 40-42 Monday night.
• Just mostly cloudy a bit cooler Tuesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday, just mostly cloudy at night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs 50-47 lows 42-39. (seasonal averages high 49 low 36)
  _____

Your College Football Forecast:

The Civil War Game:

Ducks vs Beavers at Reser Stadium, Corvallis – Kickoff: 1:00 PM PST – Mostly cloudy with rain likely at the kickoff changing to showers in the afternoon, 44 warming to near 50 by the end of the game. That means a chilly and wet afternoon. Dress appropriately.

________________

 

Forecast for Roseburg:

• AM rain, showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.), evening showers, rain and snow showers likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Sunday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft. rising to 3,500 ft.), showers likely (70%) Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Cloudy with AM showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Monday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday night.
• highs 49-52 cooling back to 49 Monday lows 40-43.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with patchy fog Tuesday, showers likely (70%) Tuesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday night,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night and patchy fog late Thursday night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Friday.
• highs 52-47 lows 42-33. (seasonal averages high 50 low 39)

 

________________

 

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

• Cloudy with AM rain, showers with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler this afternoon and evening (0.50 in. of rain possible) showers late tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Sunday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal evening showers and showers likely (70%) at night while inland showers likely (70%) Sunday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Monday, then a slight (20%) chance of showers at night.
• highs 52-55 cooling to 53 Monday lows 44-46 cooling to 43 Monday night.
• Just cloudy and a bit warmer with patchy fog Tuesday, mostly cloudy with showers likely (60%) Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday and at night,
• A slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers with patchy fog late Thursday night,
• Then just mostly cloudy Friday.
• highs 54-52 lows 44-40. (seasonal averages high 53 low 41)

 

________________

 

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow, rain and snow and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 1-3 in. of snow possible), rain and snow showers and colder tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible, 4-7 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow and a bit cooler in the afternoon, evening snow and rain, rain and snow showers Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Monday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday night.
• snow level 4,000 ft. today, 3,000 ft. tonight and Sunday, 4,000 ft. Sunday night, then 3,500 ft. Monday and Monday night.
• highs 35-30 lows 28-24.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit warmer Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow showers likely (70%) Wednesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers at night,
• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of snow showers Thursday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Friday.
• snow level 3,500 ft. Tuesday, 4,500 ft. Tuesday night, 3,500 ft. Wednesday, 3,000 ft. Wednesday night, 2,500 ft. Thursday and Thursday night, then free air freezing level 4,000 ft Friday.
• Then a mix of clouds and sun Friday.
• highs 35-30 warming back to 35 Friday lows 28-20.

________________

**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.

________________

Get your local Eugene-Springfield and Lane County news on-line at eugenedailynews.com.

__________