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) will bring us dry weather and sunshine for today. The short-lived high will be replaced by an upper level trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) returning the clouds and precipitation. The days 1-3 graphic shows the next frontal system headed out way Thursday (day 3). The graphic for days 3-7 shows a cold front we’ll to our North on Christmas day and the next storms headed out over that Pacific Ocean. Another frontal system will approach the Pacific Northwest next Tuesday. For mountain snow conditions at the local ski areas check out their websites or give them a call.

Note: Many people always ask me if there is a chance of the Eugene-Springfield area having a “White Christmas.” I checked with  the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Portland to confirm a statistic I remember from back in the days when we had a local weather service office at the Eugene Airport. Clinton Rockey, their climatology expert, says that we have no more than a 2% chance of having a White Christmas. That is calculated from the historical climate data going back to when the local office first opened. Don’t worry Santa doesn’t need snow to deliver the presents.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 23 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 20 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 18 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:

• A DENSE FOG ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM TODAY FOR THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTYH WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
• A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM TODAY 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:

• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog and freezing fog this AM, mostly sunny and colder with patchy lingering fog Wednesday afternoon, becoming partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late tonight,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with patchy AM fog and freezing fog Thursday, a (40%) chance of  rain in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain likely (70%), then showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday and Friday night.
• highs 36-44 cooling to 42 Friday lows 28-36 cooling to 33 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, then mostly cloudy  with good (50%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Monday night and Tuesday.
• highs 40-37 warming to 42 Tuesday lows 32-29 warming to 34 Monday night. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• AM clouds with patchy freezing fog, sunny and a bit cooler this afternoon, clear this evening, mostly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog, a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%), rain late Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler Friday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Friday night.
• highs 47-42  lows 35-42 cooling to 39 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday and Saturday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers  Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday (a bit warmer), a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (60%) Tuesday.
• highs 44-47 lows 34-38. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

 

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

• AM clouds with patchy fog, sunny and a bit cooler this afternoon, clear this evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of coastal rain Thursday while a (30%) chance of inland rain in the afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal rain at night while inland evening rain likely (70%) then inland rain late Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy rain likely (70%) Friday AM, showers and a bit cooler Friday afternoon, then showers likely (70%) Friday night.
• highs 52-47 lows 39-43 cooling back to 39 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday AM, a (30%) chance of showers in the afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, a (30%) chance of rain at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Tuesday.
• highs 47-50 lows near 40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 39)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny and colder today, clearing this evening, partly cloudy and cold tonight,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Thursday afternoon, rain and snow Thursday night,
• AM rain and snow Friday, rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a bit cooler  in the afternoon, then snow showers likely (70%) Friday night.
• free air freezing level 5,000 ft. rising to 7,500 ft. today, 7,000 ft. falling to 6,500 ft. tonight, snow level 3,500 ft. Thursday, 4,000 ft. Thursday night, 3,000 ft. Friday, then 2,500 ft. Friday night.
• highs 33-35 cooling to 30 Friday lows 18-24 cooling to 20 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 and a bit warmer Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night and Monday (a bit warmer), then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Monday night and Tuesday.
• snow level at the surface Saturday through Sunday, free air freezing level at the surface Sunday night and Monday, snow level 3,000 ft. Monday night, then 3,500 ft. Tuesday.
• 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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