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.

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An Upper Level High Pressure Ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape with blue arrows) called an Omega Block (shaped like Greek letter Omega) continues the hot, dry weather allowing wildfire smoke to cover the area. The graphics for days 3-7 show frontal systems attempting to move into the Pacific Northwest Friday and next Monday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 434 in the Hazardous category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 239 in the Very Unhealthy category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 171 in the Unhealthy category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

 

 

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Advisories:

• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT 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 FOR VERY DRY AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS  10 PM TONIGHT 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 FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING WITH DRY FUELS FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST, THE UMPQUA BASIN, THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST, THE SOUTHERN OREGON COAST, THE WESTERN ROGUE RIVER, THE SISKIYOU NATIONAL FOREST, THE WESTERN ROUGHE BASIN INCLUDING THE ILLINOIS VALLEY, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE EASTERN ROGUE VALLEY, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE KLAMATH BASIN AND THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST, AND  THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTIES.
• A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TONIGHT FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL 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 THIS EVENING 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 NOON FRIDAY FOR CROOK COUNTY,DESCHUTES COUNTY, GILLIAM COUNTY, GRANT COUNTY, MORROW COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MORROW COUNTY, SHERMAN COUNTY, UMATILLA COUNTY, UNION COUNTY, WILLOWA COUNTY, WASCO COUNTY, AND WHEELER 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.

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Your College Football Forecast:

September 9th-

Ducks vs Nebraska, at Autzen Stadium – Kickoff: 1:30 PM PDT – Partly cloudy 70 warming to 78 by the end of the game.

Beavers vs Minnesota, at Reser Stadium – Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT- Partly cloudy 75 and cooling as the game progresses.

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

• Partly cloudy and warm, but a bit cooler, with areas of smoke this afternoon,  partly cloudy with areas of smoke tonight,
• Partly cloudy with areas of smoke and a bit cooler and a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of AM showers and thunderstorms, a (40%) chance of showers and a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, then a (30%) chance of showers late Thursday night.
• highs 87-78 lows 60-58.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM showers, a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers in the evening, partly cloudy late Friday night,
• Partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday through Sunday night,
• Partly cloudy Monday AM, then mostly sunny and a bit warmer in the afternoon.
• highs 75-88 lows near 54. (seasonal averages high 80 low 49)

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Sunny and a bit warmer with patchy smoke this afternoon, mostly clear with patchy smoke tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy smoke and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of thunderstorms Wednesday and at night,
• Mostly cloudy with patchy smoke and a (30%) chance of showers and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Thursday AM, patchy smoke and a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of showers in the afternoon and Thursday night.
• highs 95-79 lows 63-60.
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers, patchy smoke Friday with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening, patchy smoke at night,
• Partly cloudy with patchy smoke and a bit warmer Saturday through Monday.
• highs 79-90 lows 58-56. (seasonal averages high 82 low 53)

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

• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with patchy inland smoke today, partly cloudy with patchy inland smoke tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon with patchy inland smoke in the afternoon and evening, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of  thunderstorms at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM thunderstorms, a bit cooler with a (40%) chance of showers Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Thursday night.
• highs 69-67 lows near 57.
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Friday, a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night,
• Then partly cloudy Saturday Monday.
• highs 67-69 lows near 55. (seasonal averages high 66 low 52)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• Partly cloudy and very warm with more smoke today, smoke and a slight (20%) chance of thunderstorms tonight,
• Partly cloudy and a bit cooler with smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday, mostly cloudy with areas of smoke and a good (50%) chance of showers and thunderstorms at night,
• Mostly cloudy with areas of smoke and a (40%) chance of showers and thunderstorms and a bit cooler Thursday, areas of smoke and a slight (20%) chance of evening showers, areas of smoke and a (30%) chance of showers late Thursday night.
• free air freezing level 16,000 ft. today, then snow level above 8,000 ft. tonight through Thursday night.
• highs 84-65 lows 57-50.
• A mix of clouds and sun with areas of smoke and a (30%) chance of showers Friday AM, areas of smoke with a slight (20%) chance  of afternoon showers and a bit cooler, partly cloudy areas of smoke and a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night and Saturday AM, mostly sunny and a bit warmer with areas of smoke in the afternoon, partly cloudy with areas of smoke Saturday night,
• Partly cloudy with areas of smoke and a bit warmer Sunday and Sunday night,
• Areas of smoke and partly cloudy Monday AM, then mostly sunny and a bit warmer with areas of smoke Monday afternoon.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. Friday and Friday night, free air freezing level 14,000 ft. Saturday afternoon, 15,000 ft. Saturday nigh and Sunday, then 16,000 ft. Sunday night and Monday.
• highs 64-77 lows 46-49.

 

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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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