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 33 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 19 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: YELLOW – Caution is Advised.

*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 FOR TONIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM SATURDAY ABOVE 1,500 FT, FOR THE CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, JACKSON COUNTY, 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 evening showers likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.),
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 1,500 ft.), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog late Saturday night and Sunday AM, mostly sunny and Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day),  partly cloudy with patchy freezing fog late at night,
• Patchy AM freezing fog, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Monday, more clouds to mostly cloudy with rain likely (70%) Monday night.
• lows 32-28 warming to 37 Monday night highs near 40.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Tuesday, a good (50%) chance of rain Tuesday night.
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun Thursday, partly cloudy at night,
• Then increasing clouds with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday.
• highs near 44 lows 37-32. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers this evening, rain and snow showers likely (70%) late tonight (1-2 in. of snow possible, snow level 1,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday (snow level 2,000 ft. falling to 1,500 ft. ), a slight (20%) chance of evening rain and snow showers, just partly cloudy late Saturday night,
• Patchy AM freezing fog, partly cloudy Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day), patchy freezing fog Sunday night,
• Patchy AM freezing fog, mostly cloudy and a bit warmer Monday afternoon, evening rain and snow likely (70%), then rain likely (60%) late Monday night.
• lows 35-28 warming to 38 Monday night highs near 42.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit warmer Tuesday, evening rain likely (70%), mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (70%) late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of showers with areas of fog late Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, areas of fog and freezing fog late Thursday night and Friday (a bit warmer).
• highs 45-43 warming to 46 Friday lows 38-34. (seasonal averages high 47 low 36)

 

 

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

• Mostly cloudy with coastal showers likely (70%) tonight while inland rain and snow showers this evening and inland rain and snow showers likely (70%) late at night, (snow level 1,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal showers likely (70%) and a (40%) chance of coastal showers Saturday afternoon while a (30%) chance of inland showers Saturday (snow level 2,000 ft.), mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening (snow level 2,000 ft.), 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, partly cloudy with patchy inland freezing fog late Sunday night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy freezing fog Monday AM, just  mostly cloudy in the afternoon, then rain Monday night.
• lows 37-33 warming to 42 Monday night highs near 48.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and a bit warmer Tuesday, rain likely (60%) Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of showers with areas of fog at night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of AM fog, partly cloudy Thursday afternoon, mostly clear in the evening, partly cloudy with areas of fog late Thursday night and Friday AM, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Friday.
• highs 48-50 lows 42-39. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly cloudy and colder with snow showers (4-8 in. of snow possible) tonight,
• Cloudy with AM snow showers likely (70%), a bit cooler with a good (50%) chance of snow showers Saturday afternoon (1-2 in. of snow possible), partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening snow showers, snow flurries late Saturday night and Sunday AM, mostly sunny and a bit warmer Sunday afternoon (Christmas Day), just partly cloudy Sunday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, then becoming mostly cloudy with snow likely (70%) Monday night.
• snow level 2,500 ft. tonight, at the surface Saturday through Sunday, free air freezing level at the surface Sunday night and Monday, then snow level at the surface Monday night.
• lows 18-14 warming to 23 Monday night highs 26-30.
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow and a bit warmer Tuesday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Wednesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Thursday, partly cloudy at night,
• Increasing clouds with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday.
• snow level 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, 2,500 ft. Wednesday and Wednesday night, free air freezing level 4,000 ft. Thursday, 7,000 ft. Friday night, then snow level 6,500 ft. Friday.
• highs 32-35 lows near 24.

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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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