Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is  “Frazil Ice?” 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 High Pressure Ridge (Shaded “Arch” shape formed by arrows) has weakened  and that kept the temperatures up. An upper level low (“U” shape formed by arrows) brings in cooler air, but high pressure quickly returns to warm us back up a bit. The graphics for days 3-7  show no frontal systems trying to move into Oregon until next Thursday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene/Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 73 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 71 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 66 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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ADVISORIES:

• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM FRIDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING AND GUSTY OUTFLOW WINDS FOR  THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST, THE MINUS SISTERS RANGER DISTRICT, THE UMPQUA NATIONAL FOREST, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE KLAMATH BASIN, THE FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST, AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON DESERT INCLUDING THE BLM LAND IN EASTERN LAKE COUNTY AND WESTERN HARNEY COUNTY.
• A SMOKE AIR QUALITY ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT DUE TO WILDFIRES UNTIL NOON FRIDAY FOR CROOK COUNTY, DESCHUTES COUNTY, GILLIAM COUNTY, GRANT COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MORROW COUNTY, SHERMAN COUNTY, UMATILA COUNTY, UNION COUNTY WASCO COUNTY, WALLOWA COUNTY, AND WHEELER COUNTY. LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WHEN IT IS SMOKY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON FRIDAY FOR CLACKAMAS COUNTY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, HOOD RIVER COUNTY. MARION COUNTY, MULTMOMAH COUNTY, POLK COUNTY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, AND  YAMHILL COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM SATURDAY FOR EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE 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.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON FRIDAY FOR CROOK COUNTY,  GILLIAM COUNTY, GRANT COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MORROW COUNTY, SHERMAN COUNTY, UMITILLA COUNTY, UNION COUNTY, WILLOWA COUNTY, WASCO COUNTY, AND WHEELER COUNTY.

HEALTH ADVISORIES:

• A PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL LEVELS OF BACTERIA IN OCEAN WATERS AT SEAL ROCK STATE PARK BEACH, LOCATED IN LINCOLN COUNTY. WATER SAMPLES INDICATE HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL LEVELS OF FECAL BACTERIA, WHICH CAN CAUSE DIARRHEA, STOMACH CRAMPS, SKIN RASHES, UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND OTHER ILLNESSES. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WATER IN THIS AREA UNTIL THE ADVISORY IS LIFTED. THIS APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, WHO MAY BE MORE VULNERABLE TO WATERBORN BACTERIA. WHILE THIS ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AT SEAL ROCK STATE PARK BEACH, VISITORS SHOULD AVOID WADING IN NEARBY CREEKS, POOLS OF WATER ON THE BEACH, OR IN  DISCOLORED WATER, AND STAY CLEAR OF WATER RUNNOFF FLOWING INTO THE OCEAN. EVEN IF THERE IS NO ADVISORY IN EFFECT, OFFICIALS RECOMMEND AVOIDING SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER A RAINSTORM. OTHER BEACH ACTIVITIES ARE SAFE TO ENJOY.
• A RECREATIONAL USE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE ONLY THE WILLAMETTE RIVER’S ROSS ISLAND LAGOONCATED ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN PORTLAND IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY. THE ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED DUE TO VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF A CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM (HARMFUL ALGAE) IN THE LAGOON. WATER SAMPLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONFIRM THE TYPE OF CYANOBACTERIA AND THE LEVEL OF POTENTIAL TOXINS THAT MAY BE PRODUCED. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE RIVER WHERE A BLOOM IS IDENTIFIED IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE ANY TOXINS PRODUCED CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY BOILING, FILTERING OR TREATING THE WATER WITH CAMPING STYLE FILTERS. NO PUBLIC DRINKING OR POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED. PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID SWIMMING AND HIGH-SPEED WATER ACTIVITIES LIKE WATER SKIING OR POWER BOATING IN AREAS OF  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  IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS TOXINS CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ANY TECHNIQUE.
• A RECREATIONAL USE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR, LOCATED JUST EAST OF THE TOWN OF HEPNER IN MORROW 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 USE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED 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 BELOW RECREATIONAL VALUES FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. THE CYNOTOXIN CONCENTRATIONS IN SUNSET COVE WHERE THE BLOOM WAS LOCATED AND THE SAMPLE TAKEN REMAINS ABOVE THE AHA GUIDELINE VALUE FOR DOGS SO HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND KEEPING PETS OUT OF THIS AREA
• A RECREATIONAL USE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED FOR THE WILLAMETTE RIVER’S ROSS ISLAND LAGOON LOCATED ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN PORTLAND IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY. WATER SAMPLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONFIRM THE BLOOM IS GONE.
• 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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