Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “Active Storage Capacity?” 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.

________________

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 is returning though. The days 1-3 graphic shows the frontal system moving over the Pacific Northwest overnight and Tuesday. The graphic for days 3-7 shows a series of frontal systems that will be keeping us in precipitation Friday and again Sunday. 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.

________________

 

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 52 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 48 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 53 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

________________

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)

________________

Advisories:

• A WINTER STORM WARNING  IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM TONIGHT FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON,
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 2 AM TUESDAY FOR THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY FOR THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
•  A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM TONIGHT  UNTIL 4 AM TUESDAY FOR THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS.
• A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT UNTIL 4 AM WEDNESDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, AND THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS.
• 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:

• 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 this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), increasing clouds with rain tonight (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.
• highs near 42-47 cooling to 43 Wednesday lows 38-33.
• 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)

 

_____________________

Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM freezing fog, partly cloudy and a bit cooler this afternoon, becoming cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain and snow, rain likely (60%) late tonight (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.
• highs 42-49 cooling to 44 Wednesday lows 39-36.
• 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)

 

 

________________

 

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

• Mostly clear with patchy inland fog and freezing fog this AM, just mostly cloudy and a bit warmer this afternoon, becoming cloudy with a (40%) chance of evening rain, coastal rain late tonight while inland rain likely (70%) late tonight (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.
• highs 49-52 cooling to 50 Wednesday lows 43-39.
• 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)

 

________________

 

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer today, becoming mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of evening snow, snow late tonight (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 this AM, snow level 2,500 ft. tonight, 4,000 ft. Tuesday, 4,000 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. Tuesday night, 3,000 ft. Wednesday, then 4,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 32-34 lows 22-24.
• 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.

 

 

________________

 

**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.

________________