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.

________________

Short-lived high pressure is being 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 our way Thursday (day 2). The graphic for days 3-7 shows a frontal system approaching 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.

________________

 

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 65 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 35 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)

________________

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)

________________

Advisories:

• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR LATER THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THURSDAY THROUGH 4 PM FRIDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• 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.

________________

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

• Mostly cloudy with areas of freezing fog and locally dense fog tonight,
• Cloudy with areas of AM fog and freezing fog, a good (50%) chance of rain and warmer Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), rain Thursday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, showers and a bit cooler Friday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Saturday (snow level 1,000 ft.), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then just partly cloudy late Saturday night.
• lows 30-38 cooling to 30 Saturday night highs 45-40.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Sunday (Christmas Day), just partly cloudy at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with good (50%) chance of rain Monday night through Wednesday.
• highs 37-42 lows 29-36. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

_____________________

Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight and Thursday AM, a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening rain, then rain late Thursday night (0.50 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Friday afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 2,500 ft. in the afternoon), becoming cloudy with evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late Friday night (snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. late Friday night),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, a slight (20%) chance of evening snow showers, then just partly cloudy late Saturday night.
• lows 43-40 cooling to 32  Saturday night highs 48-42.
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy lingering freezing fog Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day) through Monday (a bit warmer), a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow at night,
• AM rain and snow likely (70%), rain likely (70%) and a bit warmer Tuesday afternoon, a good (50%) chance of evening rain, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 39-45 lows 27-37. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

 

________________

 

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

• Mostly clear this evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening coastal rain likely (70%) while a good (50%) chance of evening inland rain, rain late Thursday night (0.75 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain Friday AM, showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible), cloudy with coastal showers likely (70%) Friday night while evening inland showers likely (70%) and a good (50%) chance of inland rain and snow showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy in the evening, then just partly cloudy late Saturday night.
• lows 39-42 cooling to 35 Saturday night highs 52-47.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM fog and freezing fog, just mostly cloudy Sunday (Christmas Day), mostly cloudy with freezing fog Sunday night and Monday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Rain likely (70%) and a bit warmer Tuesday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• highs 47-50 lows 35-40. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

 

________________

 

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly clear this evening, partly cloudy and cold tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, rain and snow at night (0.50 in. of rain possible, 5-9 in. of snow possible),
• AM rain and snow Friday AM, becoming mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon, snow showers likely (70%) and colder Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of snow showers Saturday, then a slight (20%) chance of snow showers at night.
• free air freezing level 8,000 ft. tonight, 7,000 ft. falling to 5,500 ft. Thursday, snow level 3,500 ft. Thursday night, 3,000 ft. Friday, then at the surface Friday night through Saturday night.
• lows 20-26 cooling to 17 Saturday night highs 35-27.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers and a bit warmer Sunday (Christmas Day), just mostly cloudy Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Monday a bit warmer, becoming mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Monday night,
• Rain and snow likely (70%) and a bit warmer Tuesday and Tuesday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow and a bit cooler Wednesday.
• snow level at the surface Sunday, free air freezing level at the surface Sunday night and Monday, snow level 3,000 ft. Monday night, 3,500 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, then 2,500 ft Wednesday.
• highs 28-30 cooling to 24 Wednesday lows 18-23.

________________

**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.

__________