Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is the “Exosphere?”  Here is the correct answer. The Exosphere is the upper most layer of the earth’s atmosphere; the only layer where atmospheric gases can escape into outer space.  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 (Shaded “O” shape with arrows) keeps its hold on the Pacific Northwest. Its center is to our south, but it will move slowly keeping the chance of thunderstorms in the Cascades.  The graphics for days 3-7 show a frontal system slides down to us between Friday night and early Saturday. Sunday’s map shows another front moving out of the Gulf of Alaska heading our way.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene/Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 41 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 19 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 41 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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ADVISORIES:

HEALTH ADVISORIES:

• A HEALTH ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR UPPER KLAMATH LAKE. THE LAKE IS 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 THIS AREA OF UPPER KLAMATH LAKE. THESE TOXIN CONCENTRATIONS CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING, IN AREAS WHERE BLOOMS ARE IDENTIFIED. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THIS AREA OF THE LAKE AT THIS TIME IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. OREGON PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVISE CAMPERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL VISITORS THAT TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY BOILING, FILTERING, OR TREATING WATER WITH CAMPING-STYLE FILTERS.
• A RECREATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DORENA RESERVOIR, LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF COTTAGE GROVE IN LANE COUNTY. WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF HARMFUL ALGAE ABOVE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR CELL COUNTS. HARMFUL ALGAE AT THIS LEVEL ARE LIKELY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH CYANOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. RECREATIONAL VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO ALWAYS BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF HARMFUL ALGAE AND AVOID AREAS WITH VISIBLE SCUM THAT LOOKS FOAMY, THICK LIKE PAINT, PEA-GREEN, BLUE-GREEN, OR BROWNISH, OR WHERE SMALL BRIGHT-GREEN CLUMPS ARE FLOATING IN THE WATER. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING, IN AREAS WHERE BLOOMS ARE IDENTIFIED.
• A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY HAS RE-ISSUED FOR DETROIT LAKE, LOCATED 46 MILES SE OF SALEM. THE LAKE SPANS BOTH LINN AND MARION COUNTIES.  WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF HARMFUL ALGAE ABOVE OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR CELL COUNTS. HARMFUL ALGAE AT THIS LEVEL ARE LIKELY TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH CYANOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. RECREATIONAL VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO ALWAYS BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF HARMFUL ALGAE AND AVOID AREAS WITH VISIBLE SCUM THAT LOOKS FOAMY, THICK LIKE PAINT, PEA-GREEN, BLUE-GREEN, OR BROWNISH, OR WHERE SMALL BRIGHT-GREEN CLUMPS ARE FLOATING IN THE WATER. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING, IN AREAS WHERE BLOOMS ARE IDENTIFIED.  THE DRINKING WATER ADVISORY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SALEM’S WATER ADVISORY GO TO HTTP://WWW.CITYOFSALEM.NET.
• A PERMANENT HEALTH ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH UMPQUA RIVER 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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