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Here again is my weekly weather quiz question. What is a fire tornado? Please post your answer as a comment by clicking on “no comments” in the upper right hand portion of this page under the caption, then add your comment. The first person to post the correct answer will win a week of free personalized  weather forecasts tailored to your needs. The answer has to be a comment to win. An email answer will not count. Good luck.

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The jet stream shows a cold trough of low pressure ( “U” shaped area) starting to swing down and it is already bringing winter weather ahead of and then with it. A burst of cold Arctic air will hit behind a cold front that is sliding down from the North. All of this spells a  “snow storm” for all of the Pacific Northwest continuing today and tonight, but not as much snow as I originally expected. Be careful driving on snow covered or icy roads.

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Advisories: A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM TODAY FOR THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND COAST RANGE, THE NORTH OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS AND THE FOOTHILLS OF LANE COUNTY, THE NORTH OREGON CASCADES AND THE CASCADES OF LANE COUNTY, THE LOWER COLUMBIA-I-5 CORRIDOR, THE GREATER PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER AREAS, AND THE WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY.  A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY FOR THE EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM TODAY ABOVE 1,000 FT. FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH OREGON COAST, EASTERN CURRY, AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY, AND ABOVE 1,500 FT. FOR CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY AND JACKSON COUNTY. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM TODAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTH OREGON CASCADES AND SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY, AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY.

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Here are your detailed forecasts. **

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Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis: Mostly cloudy with snow showers today (1-3 in. of snow possible), evening snow showers likely (60%), a (40%) of snow showers tonight (colder, 1 in. of snow possible), mostly cloudy Friday AM, a mix of clouds and sun Friday afternoon, mostly clear Friday night, just partly cloudy Saturday, mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of rain Saturday night highs 34-39 lows 20-13 warming to 27 Saturday night. Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of rain Sunday through Monday, A good (50%) chance of rain Monday night, then rain likely (60%) Tuesday through Wednesday highs 44-53 lows 35-38. (seasonal  averages high 52 low 36)

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Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including, Roseburg: Mostly cloudy with snow showers today (2-3 in. of snow possible lower elevations, 3-4 in. above 1,500 ft.), snow showers likely (60%) tonight (1 in. of snow possible),  mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers Friday,  partly cloudy with a (20%) chance snow showers Friday evening, just partly cloudy Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night highs near 40 lows 25-20 warming to 29 Saturday night. Mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of snow showers Sunday and a slight (20%) chance Sunday night, then a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Monday, showers Monday night, then rain likely (60%)  Tuesday through Wednesday highs 43-53 lows 35-40. (seasonal averages high 57 low 37)

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Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Mostly cloudy with AM coastal rain and snow showers then showers and isolated thunderstorms possible this afternoon, rain and snow showers  inland today (2-3 in. of snow possible below 1,000 ft. with 3-5 in. possible above 1,000 ft.), coastal rain and snow showers likely (60%) tonight, evening rain and snow showers likely (60%) inland then snow showers likely (60%) late (1 in. of snow possible), a slight (20%) chance of AM coastal snow showers Friday with a slight (20%) chance of afternoon rain and snow showers, a slight (20%) chance of snow showers inland, partly cloudy Friday night and Saturday, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night highs near 40 lows 29-24 warming to 36 Saturday night. Mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of showers Sunday and (40%) Sunday night, cloudy with showers likely (60%) Monday and rain Monday night, then rain Tuesday through Wednesday highs  46-53 lows 40-45. (seasonal averages high 55 low 41).

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Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:  Mostly cloudy with snow showers today (4-8 in. of snow possible), snow showers and very cold tonight (1-2 in. of snow possible), a mix of clouds and sun Friday and very cold and breezy (wind: E 10-20 mph gusts to 30 mph) with a slight (20%) chance of snow showers, partly cloudy, breezy (wind: E 10-20 mph gusts to 30 mph) and very cold Friday night, just partly cloudy Saturday, and mostly cloudy with a (30%) chance of snow Saturday night snow level at the surface tonight through Friday, free air freezing level at the surface Friday night and Saturday, snow level at the surface Saturday night highs 19-25 lows 9-4 warming to 17 Saturday night.  Mostly cloudy with a (40%) chance of  snow Sunday through Monday night, snow likely (60%) Tuesday and Tuesday night, then rain and snow likely (60%) Wednesday snow level at the surface Sunday through Monday night, snow level rising to 3,000 ft. Tuesday night and 4,000 ft. Wednesday highs 29-40 lows 20-29.

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**Because weather forecasting is a combination of science, intuition, and timing there can be no absolute guarantees that individual forecasts will be 100% accurate. Nature is in a constant state of flux and sudden unexpected weather events can happen.