Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “Bow Echo?” Here is the correct answer. A Bow Echo is a radar echo which is linear but bent outward in a bow shape. Damaging straight-line winds often occur near the “crest” or center of a bow echo. Areas of circulation also can develop at either end of a bow echo, which sometimes can lead to tornado formation – especially in the left (usually northern) end, where the circulation exhibits cyclonic rotation. I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting Monday. 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 Low Pressure Trough (Shaded “U” shape with blue arrows) is slowly moving away from the Willamette Valley, but another trough is close behind and will help push the next frontal system over Oregon bringing cooler temperatures and much needed rain. As a result the smoke returned to the southern Willamette Valley and will retreat again with the rainy weather that begins today. The graphics for days 1-3 show the frontal system pushing through the Pacific Northwest tonight and Monday. The graphics for days 3-7 show a frontal system moving into Oregon Wednesday.

Note: The Autumnal Equinox officially ushers in the the season of Autumn Friday September 22nd at 1:02 PM.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene-Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 88 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 135 in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 65 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

 

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Advisories:

• A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LTE TONIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, AND THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING FOR LANE COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM MONDAY FOR WASCO COUNTY AND HOOD RIVER 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.
• 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 23rd:

Ducks vs Arizona State, at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona  – Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT – Too early for an accurate weather forecast.

Beavers have a BYE week.

Next Beavers game-

September 30th:

Beavers vs Washington, at Reser Stadium.

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

• Cloudy and a bit cooler today with a good (50%) chance of afternoon rain (0.10 in. of rain possible), evening rain likely (70%), showers likely (70%) late tonight (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Monday and a slight (20%) chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms (0.25 in. of rain possible, more in storms), showers likely (70%) Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Showers likely (60%) Tuesday, then rain and breezy at night.
• highs 70-62 lows near 52.
• Mostly cloudy with showers likely (70%) Wednesday, a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday and in the evening, partly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers late Thursday night,
• A slight (20%) chance of AM showers, a mix of clouds and sun with a slight (20%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Friday afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers evening showers, then just partly cloudy and a bit warmer late Friday night and Saturday.
• highs 62-73 lows near 48. (seasonal averages high 77 low 47)

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Forecast for Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy with patchy AM smoke, a bit cooler with a (30%) chance of rain this afternoon and evening, areas of smoke with rain likely (70%) late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain and areas of smoke, showers likely (70%) with patchy smoke and a much cooler Monday afternoon (0.10 in. of rain possible) and evening, showers late Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit warmer Tuesday, then rain at night.
• highs 73-63 warming to 65 Tuesday lows 55-52.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon and at night with showers likely (70%) Wednesday night,
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Thursday and Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday AM, partly cloudy and a bit warmer Friday afternoon and evening, then just partly cloudy late Friday night and Saturday, a bit warmer Saturday afternoon.
• highs 60-75 lows near 48. (seasonal averages high 79 low 51)

 

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

• Mostly cloudy today with a (30%) chance of rain and a bit warmer this afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal rain tonight while evening inland rain likely (70%) and inland rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with AM coastal showers likely (70%) and showers and a bit cooler in the afternoon and evening while a good (50%) chance of inland showers and a bit cooler Monday (0.10 in. of rain possible), coastal showers likely (70%) late at night while inland evening showers likely (70%) and inland showers late Monday night (0.25 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with showers likely (70%) Tuesday, then rain and breezy at night.
• highs 63-60 lows near 53.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers likely (70%) Wednesday and Wednesday night,
• A good (50%) chance of showers and a bit warmer Thursday and Thursday night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM showers Friday, partly cloudy and a bit warmer in the afternoon through Saturday.
• highs 57-63 lows 49-52. (seasonal averages high 65 low 50)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County:

• A mix of clouds and sun with areas of AM smoke, a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain this afternoon, evening rain likely (70%), showers late tonight (0.75 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy with showers and much cooler Monday, rain and snow showers at night,
• AM rain and snow showers Tuesday, mostly cloudy with afternoon showers likely (70%), then rain and windy late Tuesday night.
• snow level above 8,000 ft. today and tonight, 7,500 ft. falling to 6,000 ft. Monday, 5,500 ft. Monday night and Tuesday, then 7,000 ft. Tuesday night.
• highs 60-42 lows 39-36.
• Mostly cloudy with AM showers, breezy with rain and snow showers and a bit cooler Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night,
• AM rain and snow showers likely (70%), showers likely (70%) and a bit warmer Thursday afternoon and in the evening, a good (50%) chance of showers late at night,
• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer Friday with a good (50%) chance of AM showers, a slight (20%) chance of showers in the afternoon, partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Friday night and Saturday AM, then just partly cloudy and a bit warmer Saturday afternoon.
• snow level 6,000 ft. Wednesday, 5,500 ft. Wednesday night and Thursday, 6,000 ft. Thursday night and Friday, 6,500 ft. rising to 7,500 ft. Friday night, 7,500 ft. Saturday AM, then free air freezing level 10,000 ft. Saturday afternoon.
• highs 40-57 lows 35-37.

 

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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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