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We have a winner! Here is the question again. What is a “Radiosonde” used for in weather forecasting? Extra credit points if you can tell me what new technology is replacing radiosondes. Congratulations to Lon Nevler for your correct answer :”Radiosondes are Baloon born units that measure many different forces in our Atmosphere, also used are Microwave and Nano Tech which have made for great surprises in the field.” I’ll have a new weekly weather quiz question for you starting next Monday. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized weather forecasts tailored to your needs.
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The upper air flow (yellow jet stream and dark colors for winds) shows a trough of low pressure swinging down from the Gulf of Alaska (“U” shape offshore) which is pushing a new frontal system our way. More storms will be coming at us including this frontal system (position shown Sunday) that will come in for Christmas Day. Not much of a chance of a “White Christmas” in the valleys because it will be too warm. Our best chance of valley snows usually comes in January and February.
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Advisories: NONE AT THIS TIME.
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Here are your detailed forecasts. **
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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis: Partly cloudy with patchy fog tonight, patchy AM fog, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon, mostly cloudy Thursday night, mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Friday (0.10 in. of rain possible), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday night (Christmas Eve), rain likely (60%) Saturday (Christmas Day), then rain Saturday night lows 32-42 highs 45-49. Rain Sunday, showers Sunday night, showers likely (60%) Monday, then rain Monday night through Wednesday highs 45-49 lows 39-37. (seasonal averages highs 45 low 33)
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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including, Roseburg: Mostly cloudy with patchy fog late tonight and Thursday AM, mostly cloudy Thursday afternoon, cloudy Thursday night, cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Friday (snow level 3,500 ft.), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday night (Christmas Eve), rain likely (60%) and breezy Saturday (Christmas Day), rain Saturday night, showers Sunday, rain and snow Sunday night lows 35-45 highs 47-50. Mostly cloudy with rain and snow likely (60%) Monday, rain likely (60%) Monday night, then rain Tuesday through Wednesday highs 44-50 lows 35-40. (seasonal averages high 48 low 34)
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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Mostly cloudy tonight, cloudy and breezy (wind: S 15-25 mph at the shore and S 10-20 mph inland), cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain Thursday night and breezy (winds: S 15-25 at the shore and SE 10-20 mph inland), cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday and breezy (wind: S 20-30 mph at the shore and S 10-20 mph inland), coastal rain likely (60%) and breezy Friday night (Christmas Eve) with a good (50%) chance of rain inland, rain likely (60%) Saturday (Christmas Day), with rain Saturday night lows 39-45 highs 56-50. Mostly cloudy with showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday, rain Sunday night, rain likely (60%) Monday and Monday night, then rain Tuesday through Wednesday highs 48-52 lows 46-39. (seasonal averages high 52 lows 39).
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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County: Partly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow tonight, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM snow, a (40%) chance of snow with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Thursday night, a (40%) chance of rain and snow Friday, cloudy with rain or light freezing rain or snow Friday night (1 in. of snow possible), rain likely (60%) Saturday (Christmas Day), rain Saturday night snow level 2,500 ft. this evening, 3,500 ft. to 4,000 ft. Thursday afternoon, 4,500 ft. to 3,500 ft. Thursday night, 4,500 ft. Friday, rising to 6,500 ft Friday night, 5,500 ft. Saturday and Saturday night lows 22-32 highs 35-40. Mostly cloudy with rain and snow Sunday, snow showers Sunday night, snow showers likely (60%) Monday, snow Monday night, with rain and snow Tuesday through Wednesday snow level 4,000 ft. Sunday, 3,000 ft. Sunday night, 2,500 ft. Monday, 3,000 ft. Tuesday, 4,000 ft. Tuesday night, and 3,500 ft. Wednesday highs 30-33 lows 22-25.
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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.