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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 , still offshore, that will come in for Christmas Day (Saturday position). 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: Patchy AM fog, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain this afternoon, mostly cloudy tonight, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of AM rain, 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) (0.10 in. of rain possible), then rain Saturday night highs 45-49 lows 32-42. 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 this AM, mostly cloudy this afternoon, cloudy tonight, 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 (wind: SE 10-15 mph increasing to SE 15-25 mph in the afternoon) Saturday (Christmas Day), rain Saturday night, showers Sunday, rain and snow showers Sunday night highs 47-50 lows 35-45. 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: Cloudy and breezy today (wind: S 15-25 mph at the shore and S 10-20 mph inland), cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of coastal rain tonight and breezy (winds: S 20-30 mph at the shore and S 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 (wind: SE 15-25 mph) Friday night (Christmas Eve) with a good (50%) chance of rain inland, rain likely (60%) Saturday (Christmas Day), with rain Saturday night highs 56-50 lows 39-45. 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: Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of AM snow , a slight (20%) chance of afternoon and evening rain, a slight (20%) chance of AM snow, a (40%) chance of rain and snow Friday, cloudy with rain or snow in the evening, rain or snow likely (60%) Friday night (1 in. of snow possible), rain likely (60%) Saturday (Christmas Day) (1 in. of snow possible), rain Saturday night snow level 3,500 ft. to 4,000 ft. this afternoon, 4,500 ft. tonight and Friday, rising to 6,500 ft Friday night, 5,500 ft. Saturday and 4,500 ft. Saturday night highs 35-40 lows 22-32. 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 3,500 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.