Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is the“Action Stage?” Here is the correct answer. Action Stage is the stage which, when reached by a rising stream, represents the level where the NWS or a partner/user needs to take some type of mitigation action in preparation for possible signif­icant hydrologic activity. The appropriate action is usually defined in a weather forecast office (WFO) hydrologic services manual. Action stage can be the same as forecast issuance stage (see / forecast issuance stage/). I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. 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 trough of low pressure (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) is temporarily being replaced by high pressure (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) which brought sunshine and freezing fog to us to make it at least look like a “White Christmas” despite the fact that we didn’t get any snow. Low pressure does return though. The days 1-3 graphic shows the frontal system moving Southeast away from us. The graphic for days 3-7 shows a series of frontal systems that will be keeping us in precipitation Tuesday and again Friday. So far, the snow will stay in the mountains. For mountain snow conditions at the local ski areas check out their websites or give them a call.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 83 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 119 in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 85 in the Moderate 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 STORM WATCH FOR SNOW IS IN EFFECT FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOR THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR SNOW IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A FROST ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 7 AM MONDAY 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:

• Partly cloudy with areas of freezing fog late tonight,
• A mix of clouds and sun with patchy AM fog, increasing clouds to mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain Monday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), increasing clouds with rain at night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit warmer Tuesday, showers likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM showers, then just mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night.
• lows 29-38 cooling to 33 Wednesday night highs near 42-47 cooling to 43 Wednesday.
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler Thursday, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain Friday, a (30%) chance of rain Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 42-38 warming back to 42 Saturday cooling to 38 Sunday lows 32-29 warming back to 33 Saturday night. (seasonal averages high 45 low 33)

 

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly clear this evening, partly cloudy with patchy fog and freezing fog late tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM freezing fog, partly cloudy and a bit cooler Monday afternoon, becoming cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain and snow, rain likely (60%) late Monday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 2,500 ft. rising to 3,000 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit warmer Tuesday (AM snow level 3,500 ft.), showers likely (70%) Tuesday night (snow level 3,500 ft. late at night),
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain and snow showers, then mostly cloudy with areas of fog late Wednesday night.
• lows 29-39 cooling to 36 Wednesday night highs 42-49 cooling to 44 Wednesday.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog and a bit cooler Thursday, partly cloudy with areas of fog and patchy freezing fog late Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Friday and in the evening, a (30%) chance of rain and snow late at night,
• Just mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of evening rain, then mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow Saturday night and Sunday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 43-45 cooling to 43 Saturday lows 36-33 warming back to 36 Saturday night. (seasonal averages high 48 low 36)

 

 

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

• Mostly clear with patchy inland fog and freezing fog late tonight and Monday AM, just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon, becoming cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain, coastal rain late at night while inland rain likely (70%) late Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit warmer Tuesday, showers  likely (60%) Tuesday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of showers Wednesday AM, then mostly cloudy with areas of fog late Wednesday night.
• lows 33-43 cooling to 39 Wednesday night highs 49-52 cooling to 50 Wednesday.
• Mostly cloudy with areas of fog and a bit warmer Thursday and late Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit cooler Friday, a (30%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Saturday, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 53-48 lows 42-37 warming to 48 Saturday. (seasonal averages high 51 low 40)

 

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly clear and cold tonight,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Monday, becoming mostly cloudy with a (%) chance of evening snow, snow late Monday night (4-8 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers, breezy (Wind: SW 15-25 mph) and a bit warmer Tuesday, snow showers at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Wednesday night.
• free air freezing level at the surface tonight and Monday AM, snow level 2,500 ft. Monday night, 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 4,000 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, 3,000 ft. Wednesday, then 4,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• lows 14-24 highs 32-34.
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Thursday, partly cloudy at night,
• Partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Friday,mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of  snow Friday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of snow Saturday night,
• Then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of snow Sunday.
• free air freezing level 6,000 ft. Thursday, 6,500 ft. Thursday night, snow level 4,500 ft. Friday, then at the surface Friday night through Sunday (New Year’s Day).
• highs 37-30 lows 24-16 warming to 18 Saturday night.

 

 

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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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