Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What is  “Fugitive Dust?” 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 formed by arrows) continued to give us a northeasterly airflow which allowed the wildfire smoke to continue to be a problem. As the low moves eastward the air should start to clear up, but with wildfires still scattered over the state the haze and smoke will increase again. The graphics for days 1-3 show the front that is cooling us off and hopefully cleaning up the air today. The graphics for days 3-7  show no frontal systems moving through the Pacific Northwest between Sunday and next Thursday.

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Air Quality Index:

Eugene/Springfield: The Air Quality Index is 89 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Oakridge: The Air Quality Index is 78 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 82 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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ADVISORIES:

• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TODAY FOR THE CURRY COUNTY COAST, CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, AND THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS.
• AN AIR QUALITY ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON FRIDAY FOR CROOK COUNTY, DESCHUTES COUNTY, GILLIAM COUNTY, GRANT COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MORROW COUNTY, SHERMAN COUNTY, UMATILLA COUNTY, UNION COUNTY, WALLOWA COUNTY, WASCO COUNTY, AND WHEELER COUNTY.
• AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY, EASTERN CURRY COUNTY, JOSEPHINE COUNTY, THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS, JACKSON COUNTY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES, THE SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES, THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, THE KLAMATH BASIN, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY UNTIL 8PM THIS EVENING FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON.

HEALTH ADVISORIES:

• A RECREATIONAL USE HEALTH ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CULLABY, LOCATED JUST OFF OF HIGHWAY 101 BETWEEN ASTORIA AND SEASIDE IN CLATSOP COUNTY.   WATER MONITORING HAS CONFIRMED THE CYANOBACTERIA AND THE TOXINS THEY PRODUCE IN CULLABY LAKE. 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. DRINKING WATER DIRECTLY FROM CULLABY LAKE AT THIS TIME IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS.
• 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 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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