Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is the“Action Stage?” 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.

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An upper level high pressure ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) is being replaced by an upper level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows). That will warm us up and bring more rain. The days 1-3 graphic shows the warmer air and moisture headed out way with a frontal system today. The cold weather precipitation, meaning snow, will stay in the mountains for the time being. As long as we don’t see sub freezing temperatures or higher winds for a while the trees should stop falling, at least temporarily. The graphic for days 3-7 shows the next storms headed our way Friday into Saturday (storm center to our South) and again along the coast on Monday. Another frontal system will approach the Pacific Northwest next Tuesday night into Wednesday. For mountain snow conditions at the local ski areas check out their websites or give them a call.

Note: Just in case you haven’t noticed “THIS ISN”T WINTER YET!” The Winter Solstice is this Thursday December 22nd at 2:44 AM PST. I hope this current weather pattern isn’t the precursor to a very active Winter Storm season.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 17 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 53 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 33 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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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.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Advisories:

• AN AVALANCHE WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TODAY FOR MT. HOOD. THIS WARNING DOES NOT APPLY WHERE AVALANCHE MITIGATION MEASURES ARE PERFORMED.
• A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON, THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE NORTH OREGON COAST, THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST,  THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT INTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTH OREGON COAST.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 7 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE CURRY COUNTY COAST.
• A Permanent Health Advisory remains in effect 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.

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

• Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and warmer this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly clear and colder with patchy evening fog, areas of freezing fog late tonight and Wednesday AM, mostly sunny and colder with patchy fog Wednesday afternoon, becoming partly cloudy in the evening,  mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late Wednesday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with patchy AM fog and freezing fog Thursday, then rain in the afternoon and Thursday night.
• highs 49-40 warming to 44 Thursday lows 32-36.
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Friday, rain likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Saturday, a (30%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday (Christmas Day), mostly cloudy at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday.
• highs 42-36 warming to 40 Monday lows 33-29. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Cloudy with rain this AM, a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit warmer this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible), becoming mostly clear late tonight,
• Sunny and a bit cooler Wednesday, partly cloudy  in the evening, mostly cloudy late Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with AM rain, rain and a bit warmer Thursday afternoon, evening showers, then rain Thursday night.
• highs 49-42 warming to 46 Thursday lows 34-39.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday, rain likely (70%) Friday night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night and Sunday AM (Christmas Day), a slight (20%) chance of afternoon showers, then just mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday (a bit cooler).
• highs near 44 lows near 38. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

 

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

• Cloudy with rain this AM, a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible), just mostly clear and colder tonight,
• Sunny Wednesday, mostly clear this evening at the shore and becoming mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain late Wednesday night while partly cloudy inland in the evening and mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of inland rain late Wednesday night,
• AM rain likely, then rain Thursday afternoon  and at night.
• highs 53-50 lows 36-42.
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday afternoon, rain likely (70%) Friday night,
•  Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Saturday, cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday  (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday.
• highs 47-50 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Rain this AM, rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit warmer this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, 2 in. of snow possible), just mostly clear and cold tonight,
• Mostly sunny and a bit cooler Wednesday, clearing the evening, partly cloudy at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow Thursday and Thursday night.
• snow level 6,500 ft. falling to 5,500 ft. this afternoon, free air freezing level 4,000 ft. tonight, 5,000 ft. rising to 7,500 ft. Wednesday, 7,00 ft. falling to 6,500 ft. Wednesday night, snow level 3,500 ft. Thursday, then 4,000 ft. Thursday night.
• highs 36-34 lows 20-23.
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Friday, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of snow showers Saturday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Friday, 3,000 ft. Friday night, at the surface Saturday through Sunday, then free air freezing level at the surface Sunday night and Monday.
• highs 30-28 warming back to 30 Monday lows near 18.

 

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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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