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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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 today (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.

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Air Quality Index:

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

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 25 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 21 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 WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA GORGE AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TODAY THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TODAY 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.

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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 with a slight (20%) chance of rain and warmer this afternoon with increasing clouds (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with rain tonight (050 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,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (snow level 1,000 ft.), partly cloudy then just partly cloudy late Saturday night.
• highs 45-40 lows 38-30.
• 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, mostly cloudy with good (50%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Tuesday, showers likely (70%) Tuesday  night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday.
• highs 37-42 lows 29-36. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), a good (50%) chance of evening rain, then rain late tonight (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%), rain and snow showers likely (70%) late Friday night (snow level 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.
• highs 48-42 lows 40-32.
• 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)

 

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

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), evening coastal rain while evening inland rain likely (70%), rain late tonight (0.75 in. of rain possible) and 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 rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a good (50%) chance of inland rain and snow showers late Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of coastal showers while a (30%) chance of inland rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy in the evening, then just partly cloudy late Saturday night.
• highs 52-47 lows 39-42 cooling to 35 Saturday night.
• 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)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler this afternoon, rain and snow tonight (0.50 in. of rain possible, 3-8 in. of snow possible),
• AM rain and snow Friday, becoming mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 3-6 in. of snow possible), snow showers and colder Friday night,
• Mostly cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%), a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of snow showers Saturday afternoon, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of occasional snow showers at night.
• free air freezing level 5,000 ft. today, snow level 3,500 ft. tonight, 3,500 ft. falling to 2,500 ft. Friday, then at the surface Friday night through Saturday night.
• highs 35-27 lows 28-17.
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of snow flurries and a bit warmer Sunday (Christmas Day), just partly cloudy Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Monday and a bit warmer, becoming mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow Monday night,
• Rain and snow and a bit warmer Tuesday, snow showers likely (70%) 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 through Monday night, snow level 3,500 ft. Tuesday and Tuesday night, then 2,500 ft Wednesday.
• highs 28-30 cooling to 24 Wednesday lows 18-23.

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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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