Here is my weekly weather quiz question for the last time. What is a “Flash Flood?”  Here is the correct answer. A Flash Flood is a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (e.g., intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). However, the actual time threshold may vary in different parts of the country. Ongoing flooding can intensify to flash flooding in cases where intense rainfall results in a rapid surge of rising flood waters. 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 arrows) moved slowly eastward to our north and now we’ll warm up again as upper level High Pressure (“Arch” shape formed by arrows) expands  in from the Great Basin. The graphics for days 3-7  show no major frontal systems heading our way Wednesday through next Sunday, but surface thermal trough (L with dashed lines) will keep the heat turned up).

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene/Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 44 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 36 in the Good category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 47 in the Good category measuring Ozone.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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ADVISORIES:

• A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM MONDAY AM UNTIL 11 PM TUESDAY FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA, THE GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA, THE CENTRAL WILLAMETTE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY, THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE CENTRAL COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.
• A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM MONDAY THROUGH 11 PM WEDNESDAY FOR EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY,  AND JACKSON COUNTY.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM TONIGHT FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR THE WESTERN KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST, THE EASTERN ROGUE VALLEY, AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE COUNTY AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM TUESDAY FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE  COUNTY. WILDFIRE SMOKE AND AND OZONE POLLUTION WILL COMBINE TO CAUSE AIR QUALITY TO FLUCTUATE AND COULD BE UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE DAY AND KEEP CHILDREN INDOORS IF IT IS SMOKY.

HEALTH ADVISORIES:

• A RECREATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ODEL LAKE, LOCATED 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EUGENE OFF HIGHWAY 58 IN LANE COUNTY.   WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE CYANOBACTERIA AND THE TOXINS THEY PRODUCE ARE ABOVE RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. THE CYNOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS FOUND CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING IN AREAS OF THE LAKE WHERE CYNOTOXINS ARE IDENTIFIED. ALTHOUGH TOXINS ARE NOT ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SKIN  SENSITIVITIES MAY EXPERIENCE A PUFFY RED RASH AT THE AFFECTED AREA. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY TECHNIQUE.
• A RECREATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED FOR ALL OF LAKE BILLY CHINOOK. THE LAKE IS LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF MADRAS, OREGON. WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE CYANOBACTERIA AND THE TOXINS THEY PRODUCE ARE NOW BELOW RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE IN THE METOLIUS, DESCHUTES, AND CROCKED RIVER ARMS OF LAKE BILLY CHINOOK. THE CYNOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS FOUND CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING IN AREAS OF THE LAKE WHERE CYNOTOXINS ARE IDENTIFIED. ALTHOUGH TOXINS ARE NOT ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SKIN  SENSITIVITIES MAY EXPERIENCE A PUFFY RED RASH AT THE AFFECTED AREA. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY TECHNIQUE.
• A RECREATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DETROIT LAKE, LOCATED 46 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALEM.  THE LAKE SPANS BOTH LINN AND MARION COUNTIES. WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE CYANOBACTERIA AND THE TOXINS THEY PRODUCE ARE ABOVE RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. THE CYNOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS FOUND CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING IN AREAS OF THE LAKE WHERE CYNOTOXINS ARE IDENTIFIED. ALTHOUGH TOXINS ARE NOT ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SKIN  SENSITIVITIES MAY EXPERIENCE A PUFFY RED RASH AT THE AFFECTED AREA. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY TECHNIQUE.
• A RECREATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR UPPER KLAMATH LAKE, LOCATED OFF ROUTE 140, 15 MILES WEST OF KLAMATH FALLS IN KLAMATH COUNTY.  WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE CYANOBACTERIA AND THE TOXINS THEY PRODUCE ARE ABOVE RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. THE CYNOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS FOUND CAN BE HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING IN AREAS OF THE LAKE WHERE CYNOTOXINS ARE IDENTIFIED. ALTHOUGH TOXINS ARE NOT ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SKIN  SENSITIVITIES MAY EXPERIENCE A PUFFY RED RASH AT THE AFFECTED AREA. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE LAKE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY TECHNIQUE.
• 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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