________________

Reminders: Daylight Saving Time begins in less than a week at 2:00 AM Sunday March 13th (turn clocks ahead 1 hour) and The Vernal Equinox (Spring begins) occurs at 4:21 PM  Pacific Daylight Time on Sunday March 20th.

________________

Here is my weekly weather quiz question. What should you do if you see someone struck by lightning? 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.

_______________

The jet stream shows another cold trough of low pressure ( “U” shaped area) migrating Eastward across the Pacific toward the Pacific Northwest as another one pushes Eastward away from us.  A frontal system is moving through Oregon increasing chances of rain and mountain snow. Another frontal system will be coming our way over the weekend (a little break today) with a parade of storms to follow producing even more precipitation next week.

________________

Advisories:  A TSUNAMI WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COASTS OF WASHINGTON AND OREGON AND CALIFORNIA DUE TO THE EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK JAPAN. BE PREPARED TO SEEK HIGH GROUND IF YOU ARE NEAR THE SHORE.

THE TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
   AREAS OF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON FROM POINT CONCEPCION
   CALIFORNIA TO THE OREGON-WASHINGTON BORDER...

PERSONS IN TSUNAMI WARNING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE INLAND TO
HIGHER GROUND.

According to Governor Kitzhaber the Tsunami threat will be over at noon today.

_________________

Here are your detailed forecasts. **

_________________

Forecast for the Southern and lower Mid Willamette Valley including Eugene-Springfield and Albany-Corvallis:  A mix of clouds and sun this AM, mostly cloudy this afternoon, a good (50%) chance of rain late tonight (0.10 in. of rain possible), rain Saturday (0.25 in. of rain possible), showers likely (60%) Saturday night (0.25 in. of rain possible), rain and breezy Sunday,  then rain Sunday night highs 53-56 lows 38-43. Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Monday and Monday night, rain Tuesday, rain likely (60%) Tuesday night and Wednesday, then mostly cloudy with a good (50%) chance of rain Wednesday night and Thursday highs ranging from 57-52 lows near 40. (seasonal  averages high 55 low 36)

_______________

Forecast for the Umpqua Basin including, Roseburg:  Partly cloudy this AM,  just mostly cloudy this afternoon, a (30%) chance of rain late tonight, rain Saturday (snow level 3,500 ft.), cloudy with a (30%) chance of showers Saturday night (snow level 3,500 ft. falling to 3,000 ft. late at night), mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Sunday AM, then rain Sunday afternoon and Sunday night highs 58-53 warming to 57 Sunday lows 40-43 and back to 40 Sunday night. Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Monday, showers Monday night, rain Tuesday and Tuesday night, showers Wednesday, then a (40%) chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday highs near 56 lows 42-37.  (seasonal averages high 59 low 38)

_______________

Forecast for the South Oregon Coast including Coos Bay and North Bend: Just mostly cloudy today, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of coastal rain tonight with a (40%) chance of rain inland late tonight, rain Saturday, cloudy with a (40%) chance of showers Saturday night, mostly cloudy with rain and windy Sunday and Sunday night highs 54-50 lows 43-46 and back to 42 Sunday night. Mostly cloudy with rain likely (60%) Monday and breezy, showers Monday night, rain Tuesday, rain and breezy Tuesday night, showers Wednesday, then cloudy with a good (50%) chance of showers Wednesday night and Thursday highs near 53 lows ranging from 45-40. (seasonal averages high 55 low 41).

_________________

Forecast for the Cascades of Lane County:  A mix of clouds and sun today, mostly cloudy with a slight (20%) chance of rain and snow this evening, a good (50%) chance of rain and snow late tonight, rain and snow Saturday (5-8 in. of snow possible), a (40%) chance of rain and snow showers Saturday night, cloudy with a good (50%) chance of AM rain and snow Sunday, rain and snow and breezy Sunday afternoon, rain and snow Sunday night free air freezing level 3,500 ft. rising to 5,000 ft. this afternoon, snow level 4,500 ft. falling to 4,000 ft. late tonight, 3,5000 ft. rising to 4,000 ft. in the afternoon Saturday, and 3,500 ft. Saturday night, 5,000 ft, Sunday, then 4,500 ft. Sunday night highs 37-40 lows 24-30. Mostly cloudy Monday rain with snow likely (60%),  rain and snow Monday night through Tuesday night, rain with snow likely (60%) Wednesday, snow and rain likely (60%) Wednesday night, then a good (50%) chance of snow and rain Thursday snow level 3,500 ft. Monday, 4,000 ft. Monday night, then 3,500 ft. Tuesday, then 4,000 ft. Tuesday night, 3,500 ft. Wednesday, 3,000 ft. Wednesday night, and 3,500 ft. Thursday highs near lows 24-30.

_________________

**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.