Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is a “Fire Wind?” 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 arrows) slides eastward past the Pacific Northwest. Surface and upper level high pressure take over for  while. Toward the weekend we see increased Zonal Airflow (west to east) across Oregon. The graphics for days 1-3  show a frontal system approaching Oregon Friday. The graphics for Days 3-7  show the frontal system moving southward over weekend  and a cold front sliding in next Wednesday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene/Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 37 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 21 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 36 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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ADVISORIES:

• A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE EAST SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, AND THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON.
• AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY.
• AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, AND JACKSON COUNTY.

HEALTH ADVISORIES:

• THE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN RE-ISSUED 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 LEVEL OF CYNOTOXINS (FROM HARMFUL ALGAE TOXINS) IS ONCE AGAIN ABOVE RECREATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY SMALL CHILDREN AND PETS SHOULD AVOID RECREATING IN AREAS WHERE THE WATER IS FOAMY, THICK LIKE PAINT, PEA-GREEN, BLUE-GREEN OR BROWNISH-RED IN COLOR, IF A THICK MAT OF CYANOBACTERIA (HARMFUL ALGAE) IS VISIBLE IN THE WATER, OR BRIGHT GREEN CELLS ARE SUSPENDED IN THE WATER COLUMN. IF YOU OBSERVE THESE SIGNS IN THE WATER ARE ENCOURAGED TO AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING, IN AREAS WHERE BLOOMS ARE IDENTIFIED.
• 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.  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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