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 frontal system moving through Oregon. The graphic for days 3-7 shows a series of frontal systems that will be keeping us in precipitation. 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 24 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 28 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 45 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 THROUGH 6 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA GORGE, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 4 PM TODAY 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 TODAY 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:

• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible), cloudy with evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (snow level 1,500 ft.), a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog late Saturday night and Sunday AM, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day), then partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog late at night.
• highs 45-35 lows 34-28.
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of snow Monday afternoon, more clouds to mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Monday night through Tuesday  night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Then a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday.
• highs 38-42 lows 37-33. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.25 in. of rain possible, 1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 2,000 ft. in the afternoon), becoming cloudy with evening rain and snow showers likely (70%), a good (50%) of rain and snow showers late Friday night (1 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft. falling to 1,000 ft. late Friday night),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit Saturday afternoon cooler with a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (snow level 800 ft. rising to 1,500 ft. ), a slight (20%) chance of evening snow showers,  just partly cloudy late Saturday night,
• Patchy AM freezing fog, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day), patchy freezing fog Sunday night.
• highs 43-40 lows 36-29.
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, evening rain and snow likely (70%), rain and snow likely (60%) late at night,
• Mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) and a bit warmer Tuesday, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening rain, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow Wednesday AM, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of rain Wednesday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit cooler Thursday.
• highs 42-45 lows 37-34. (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 rain this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft.), cloudy with coastal showers likely (70%) this evening and showers likely (70%) with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms late at night while evening inland rain and snow showers likely (70%) and a good (50%) chance of inland rain and snow showers late tonight (snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. late),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of coastal showers while a (40%) chance of inland rain and snow showers Saturday (snow level 900 ft. rising to 2,000 ft.), mostly cloudy in the evening, just partly cloudy late Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM coastal fog while patchy fog and freezing fog inland in the AM, just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day) and in the evening, then mostly clear with freezing fog late Sunday night.
• highs near 47 lows 37-34.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy freezing fog Monday AM, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain in the afternoon, rain likely (70%) Monday night and Tuesday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM rain, a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• Then just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Thursday.
• highs 48-52 lows 42-38. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler this afternoon (0.50 in. of rain possible, 2-6 in. of snow possible), snow showers (2-4 in. of snow possible) and colder tonight,
• Cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%),  a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Saturday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Saturday night and Sunday AM, mostly sunny and a bit warmer Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day), then just partly cloudy Sunday night.
• snow level 3,000 ft. today, at the surface tonight through Saturday night, then free air freezing level at the surface Sunday and Sunday night.
• highs 33-26 lows 20-14.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, becoming mostly cloudy with snow likely (70%) Monday night,
• Rain and snow and a bit warmer Tuesday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, a (30%) chance of snow showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer  with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Thursday.
• free air freezing level at the surface Monday, snow level at the surface Monday night, 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 2,500 ft. Tuesday night, at the surface Wednesday and Wednesday night, then 3,000 ft. Thursday.
• highs 30-35 lows near 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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