Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What is “The Best Track?” And I don’t mean race track. The first person to post the correct answer as a comment on this page will win a week of free personalized weather forecasts tailored to your needs.  Good luck.

________________

 

An Upper Level High Pressure Ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) called an Omega Block continues the hot, dry weather allowing wildfire smoke to cover the area. The graphics for days 3-7 show a frontal system attempting to move into the Pacific Northwest Next Saturday.

________________

Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 250 in the Very Unhealthy category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 203 in the Very Unhealthy category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 214 in the Very Unhealthy category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

__________________

Advisories:

• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TUESDAY FOR SIGNIFICANTLY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL OREGON COAST RANGE, THE ENTIRE WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS, THE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST, THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE, THE NORTH OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS, AND THE MT. HOOD NATIONAL FOREST WEST OF CASCADE CREST.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM UNTIL 8 PM TODAY FOR DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR VERY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS  10 PM TUESDAY FOR THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE KLAMATH BASIN, AND THE FREMONT WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST, THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,  THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, AND THE WESTERN KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM TODAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND POOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERY FOR THE SOUTHERN OREGON COAST, THE WESTERN ROGUE RIVER, THE SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST, THE WESTERN KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST, THE WESTERN ROUGE BASIN INCLUDING THE ILLINOIS RIVER.
• A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TUESDAY FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON, THE CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON, THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY,THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS, THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY, THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY, THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CASCADES IN LANE COUNTY, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR BENTON COUNTY, CLACKAMAS COUNTY, CLATSOP COUNTY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, HOOD RIVER COUNTY, LANE COUNTY, LINCOLN COUNTY, LINN COUNTY, MARION COUNTY,MULTNOMAH COUNTY, POLK COUNTY, TILLAMOOK COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND WASHINGTON COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM TUESDAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN KLAMATH COUNTY, EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TUESDAY FOR CROOK COUNTY, DESCHUTES COUNTY, AND JEFFERSON COUNTY.
• The Oregon Health Authority issued a Health Advisory for Willow Creek Reservoir, located just east of the town of Heppner in Morrow County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce in the reservoir. These toxin concentrations can be harmful to humans and animals. People should always avoid areas with visible scum that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Swimming and high-speed water activities such as water skiing or power boating where ingestion and inhalation exposure can occur is discouraged. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets as a result of these water activities in areas where a bloom has been identified, or an advisory issued, can expose people to the toxins being produced. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people who have skin sensitivities that come into contact with a bloom may experience a puffy, red rash at the affected area. Drinking water directly from Willow Creek Reservoir at this time is especially dangerous. OHA Public Health Division officials advise campers and other recreational visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters.
• The Oregon Health Authority has updated the Health Advisory issued July 28 for Howard Bay (also known locally as Howards Bay or Howard’s Bay), located in the southwest corner of Upper Klamath Lake including Shoalwater Bay to the north and now all of Upper Klamath Lake. These areas of Upper Klamath Lake are located off Oregon Route 140, 15 miles west of Klamath Falls in Klamath County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce in Howard Bay. These toxin concentrations can be harmful to humans and animals. People should always avoid areas with visible scum that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue green or brownish red. Swimming and high-speed water activities such as water skiing or power boating where ingestion and inhalation exposure can occur is discouraged. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets as a result of these water activities in areas where a bloom has been identified, or an advisory issued, can expose people to the toxins being produced. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people who have skin sensitivities that come into contact with a bloom may experience a puffy, red rash at the affected area. Drinking water directly from Howard Bay and Shoalwater Bay at this time is especially dangerous. OHA Public Health Division officials advise campers and other recreational visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters.
• A Health Advisory remains in effect for Agency Lake, located just north of Klamath Falls along U.S. Highway 97 in Klamath County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce in the lake. These toxin concentrations can be harmful to humans and animals. People should always avoid areas with visible scum that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue green or brownish red. Swimming and high-speed water activities such as water skiing or power boating where ingestion and inhalation exposure can occur is discouraged. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets as a result of these water activities in areas where a bloom has been identified, or an advisory issued, can expose people to the toxins being produced. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people who have skin sensitivities that come into contact with a bloom may experience a puffy, red rash at the affected area. Drinking water directly from Agency Lake at this time is especially dangerous. OHA Public Health Division officials advise campers and other recreational visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters.
• A Health Advisory remains in effect for Willow Creek Reservoir, located just east of the town of Heppner in Morrow County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce in the reservoir. These toxin concentrations can be harmful to humans and animals. People should always avoid areas with visible scum that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue green or brownish red. Swimming and high-speed water activities such as water skiing or power boating where ingestion and inhalation exposure can occur is discouraged. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets as a result of these water activities in areas where a bloom has been identified, or an advisory issued, can expose people to the toxins being produced. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people who have skin sensitivities that come into contact with a bloom may experience a puffy, red rash at the affected area. Drinking water directly from Willow Creek Reservoir at this time is especially dangerous. OHA Public Health Division officials advise campers and other recreational visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters.
• A Health Advisory remains in effect for Coffenbury Lake, located at Fort Stevens State Park about five miles northwest of US-101 ALT, Northwest Ridgefield Road near Warrenton in Clatsop County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins in Coffenbury Lake. These blue-green algae levels are likely to be associated with dangerous cyanotoxin concentrations in the water that can be harmful to humans and animals.  People should always avoid areas with visible scum that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Swimming and high-speed water activities such as water skiing or power boating where ingestion and inhalation exposure can occur are discouraged. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets as a result of these water activities in areas where a bloom has been identified or an advisory issued, can expose people to the toxins that can be produced. Although toxins are not absorbed through the skin, people with skin sensitivities who come into contact with a bloom may experience a puffy, red rash at the affected area. Drinking water directly from Coffenbury Lake at this time is especially dangerous. OHA Public Health Division officials advise campers and other recreational visitors that toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters.
• The Oregon Health Authority updated the Health Advisory issued June 30 for Lake Billy Chinook, located about 12 miles west of Madras in Jefferson County. The update lifts the advisory on those areas of the Deschutes and Crooked River of Lake Billy Chinook arms affected by the advisory, and confines the advisory on the Metolius Arm to Perry South Cove. Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of blue-green algae toxins are below guideline values for human exposure. However, OHA recommends that people remain cautious when using the lake, particularly with pets because toxins are still well above the very low exposure levels established for dogs.
• 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.

________________

Your College Football Forecast:

September 9th-

Ducks vs Nebraska, at Autzen Stadium – Kickoff: 1:30 PM PDT – Too early for an accurate weather forecast.

Beavers vs Minnesota, at Reser Stadium – Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT- Too early for an accurate weather forecast.

________________

 

Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• A mix of clouds and sun and Very Hot with smoke today (Labor Day), partly cloudy with smoke tonight,
• Areas of AM smoke, mostly sunny and Hot, but a bit cooler, with smoke Tuesday afternoon,  just mostly clear with smoke Tuesday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun with more smoke and a bit cooler and a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon, evening smoke, then mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms late Wednesday night.
• highs 96-85 lows near 60.
• A mix of clouds and sun with areas of smoke and a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday AM, a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer with more smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday afternoon, then partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday night through Sunday.
• highs 78-80 lows 58-55. (seasonal averages high 80 low 49)

________________

 

Forecast for Roseburg:

• Areas of AM smoke, sunny and Very Hot with patchy smoke this afternoon (Labor Day), partly cloudy with patchy smoke tonight and Tuesday, partly cloudy with patchy smoke Tuesday night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy AM smoke, mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy smoke and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon, mostly cloudy with patchy smoke and a (30%) chance of thunderstorms at night.
• highs 100-89 lows 65-62.
• Mostly cloudy with patchy smoke and a chance of showers and a (30%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday, mostly cloudy with patchy smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday night and Friday, partly cloudy with patchy smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night through Saturday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy smoke and a (30%) chance of showers Sunday.
• highs 82-80 lows 59-55. (seasonal averages high 82 low 53)

_____________________

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

• Sunny with patchy AM coastal smoke while areas of AM inland smoke, partly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy inland smoke this afternoon (Labor Day) and tonight,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy inland smoke Tuesday afternoon and evening, just partly cloudy late Tuesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of  thunderstorms at night.
• highs near 73-66 lows 56-58.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of thunderstorms and a bit warmer Thursday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Thursday night and Friday, partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night through Saturday night,
• Then partly cloudy and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers Sunday.
• highs 68-65 lows 58-55. (seasonal averages high 66 low 52)

________________

Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Mostly sunny and Hot with more smoke today (Labor Day) and Tuesday, partly cloudy with smoke tonight, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms with smoke in the evening, just partly cloudy with smoke Tuesday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with smoke and a (30%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday, mostly cloudy with evening smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms, then partly cloudy with areas of smoke late at night,
• free air freezing level 16,000 ft. today through Wednesday, then snow level above 8,000 ft. Wednesday night.
• highs 88-92 cooling to 78 Wednesday lows 58-54.
• A mix of clouds and sun with areas of smoke and a (30%) chance of AM showers and thunderstorms, areas of smoke and a  (30%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with areas of smoke and a (30%) chance of evening showers, partly cloudy with areas of smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers at night,
• Morning smoke, with a slight (20%) chance of showers, a mix of clouds and sun and a bit cooler with areas of smoke and a (30%) chance  of showers Friday afternoon, partly cloudy areas of smoke and and a (30%) chance of evening showers, areas of smoke with a slight (20%) chance of showers late Friday night and Saturday AM, just partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon and Saturday night,
• Then partly cloudy with areas of smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Thursday morning through Friday night, free air freezing level 13,000 ft. Saturday afternoon, 14,000 ft. falling to 12,000 ft. late Saturday night, the 12,000 ft. Sunday.
• highs 68-70 lows near 48.

 

________________

**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.

________________