Here is my new weekly weather quiz question. What are “Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)?

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A very strong Jet Stream flow www.wunderground.com/maps/wind/jet-stream  from the northeast and sent much cooler air to the Pacific Northwest. A strong cold front www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov  pushed through the Pacific Northwest from the northeast (called a backdoor cold front) bringing colder air with it. It will take a while for temperatures to warm back up again. There will be frontal activity returning by the end of the week, but not of the bitter cold airflow nature.

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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 127 in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category measuring Particulate Matter.

Cottage Grove: The Air Quality Index is 63 in the Moderate category measuring Particulate Matter.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

NOTE: Outdoor burning remains temporarily prohibited for the following areas: Eugene-Springfield, Florence, Lowell, Oakridge and UGB, and Springfield and UGB.

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ADVISORIES:

• A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY  FOR THE GRANDE RONDE VALLEY.
• A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN LAKE COUNTY.
• AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM MST (MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME) FRIDAY FOR HARNEY COUNTY, BAKER COUNTY, MALHEUR COUNTY, AND THE OREGON LOWER TREASURE VALLEY.

Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer today, becoming mostly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (40%) chance of rain Thursday afternoon, rain at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with rain Friday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Friday night.
• highs 45-50 lows 29-39.
• Cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM rain, a bit warmer with rain likely (70%) Saturday afternoon, rain Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain Sunday, a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Monday night,
• Then cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Tuesday.
• highs 52-47 warming to 50 Tuesday lows 40-37. (seasonal averages high 50 low 35)

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Home Wood Heating Advisory:

Posted Daily

Eugene-Springfield: GREEN– Burning is Allowed.

Oakridge: GREEN– Burning is Allowed.

*Note: Pellet stoves may be used anytime if they produce no visible emissions.

Data courtesy of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Valley including Roseburg:

• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer today, partly cloudy this evening, mostly cloudy late tonight,
• Cloudy and a bit cooler with a slight (20%) chance of rain Thursday (afternoon snow level 3,000 ft.), rain likely (70%) at night (under 0.10 in. of rain possible, snow level 3,500 ft.),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain likely (70%), a good (50%) chance of rain Friday afternoon, then mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain Friday night.
• highs 55-52 lows 35-40 cooling to 38 Friday night.
• Cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Saturday, showers Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy with showers and a bit cooler Sunday, a good (50%) chance of showers at night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday and Tuesday, a slight (20%) chance of rain late Monday night.
• highs 52-47 warming back to 52 Tuesday lows 42-35. (seasonal averages high 52 low 37)

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Forecast for The South Oregon Coast Including Coos Bay and North Bend:

• Mostly cloudy and slightly warmer today, partly cloudy this evening,  mostly cloudy late tonight,
• Cloudy with a (40%) chance of coastal rain and a bit warmer Thursday while a (40%) chance of AM inland rain with inland rain Thursday afternoon (under 0.10 in. of rain possible), breezy (Wind: SE 15-25 mph), rain Thursday night (0.25 in. of rain possible) breezy (Wind: S 20-30 mph gusts to 45 mph),
• Mostly cloudy with AM rain, a bit cooler with rain likely (70%) Friday afternoon, then a good (50%) chance of rain Friday night.
• highs 54-56 cooling back to 54 Friday lows 36-42.
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and a bit warmer Saturday, showers Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with showers Sunday, a good (50%) chance of rain at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Monday, a slight (20%) chance of rain late Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain Tuesday.
• highs 55-52 warming to 54 Tuesday lows 42-37. (seasonal averages high 54 low 41)

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Forecast for the Cascades in Lane County

• A mix of clouds and sun and a bit warmer today, partly cloudy tonight,
• Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain and snow and  a bit cooler Thursday afternoon, good (50%) chance of evening rain and snow, rain and snow likely (70%) late Thursday night (1-3 in. of snow possible),
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with a rain and snow likely (70%) Friday and breezy (1-4 in. of snow possible), mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain and snow at night.
• free air freezing level 6,500 ft. today, 7,000 ft. tonight, snow level 4,500 ft. Thursday, 4,000 ft. Thursday night, 3,500 ft. Friday, then 4,000 ft. Friday night.
• highs 44-35 lows 22-29 cooling to 25 Friday night.
• Mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Saturday, rain and snow Saturday night,
• Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler with rain and snow Sunday, rain and snow likely (70%) at night,
• Mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain and snow Monday, a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow Monday night,
• Then mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with a (30%) chance of rain and snow Tuesday.
• snow level  4,000 ft.  Saturday, 5,000 ft. Saturday night, 4,000 ft. Sunday and Sunday night, 3,000 ft. Monday, 3,500 ft. Monday night, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday.
• highs 37-34 warming to 38 Tuesday lows 28-23.

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