textproduct: Medford

DISCUSSION

Updated aviation and marine discussions.

AVIATION...13/06Z TAFs

Onshore flow near the coast (and at North Bend) will maintain cloudier conditions there with MVFR ceilings and local IFR/LIFR (Brookings). There can also be some light rain/drizzle at times. Some clouds will also prevail across the rest of northern Curry, Coos and Douglas counties (as far east as the Cascades north of Mt McLoughlin) with a mix of VFR/MVFR -- this affects Roseburg as well. Some areas of higher terrain could also be obscured. Hi-res guidance is showing a little cloudiness trying to bank up against the Siskiyous tonight, and while any ceilings probably remain VFR, there is about a 20-30% chance of an MVFR ceiling at Medford early Friday morning. The rest of the area will be VFR through Friday evening.

Locally breezy winds, especially along the coast and over the East Side die down this evening, then re-surface Friday afternoon.

The frontal system that has been to our north for several days will finally press southward Friday night into Saturday with periods of rain, high elevation snow and reduced ceilings, especially from the Cascades/Siskiyous north and west. -Spilde

MARINE...Updated 1000 PM PDT Thursday, March 12, 2026

A front to the north of the area tonight will bring another round of gusty south to southwest winds and steep seas north of Cape Blanco on Friday. The front will move through from north to south Friday night with a wind shift to northerly for all areas by Saturday. While winds and seas will subside a bit across the far north, conditions are likely to become hazardous to small craft for all areas south of Cape Arago Saturday into Saturday night. -Spilde

PREV DISCUSSION

/Issued 459 PM PDT Thu Mar 12 2026/

DISCUSSION...Uodated aviation discussion.

AVIATION...13/00Z TAFs...Onshore flow near the coast (and at North Bend) will maintain cloudier conditions there with MVFR ceilings and local IFR/LIFR (Brookings). There can also be some light rain/drizzle from the marine layer at times. Some clouds will also prevail across the rest of northern Curry, Coos and Douglas counties (as far east as the Cascades north of Mt McLoughlin) with a mix of VFR/MVFR -- this affects Roseburg as well. Some areas of higher terrain could also be obscured. Hi-res guidance is showing a little cloudiness trying to bank up against the Siskiyous tonight, and while any ceilings probably remain VFR, there is about a 20-30% chance of an MVFR ceiling at Medford early Friday morning. The rest of the area will be VFR through Friday evening.

Locally breezy winds, especially along the coast and over the East Side die down this evening, then re-surface Friday afternoon. -Spilde

PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 202 PM PDT Thu Mar 12 2026/

DISCUSSION...Seasonal temperatures across the area and elevated wind over terrain continue this afternoon. Westerly flow aloft is keeping moisture moving onto the coast, bringing intermittent activity. Remote observations indicate some parts of Douglas County have seen around half an inch of rainfall in the past 24 hours, but other coast and coast-adjacent areas have seen less than one tenth of an inch. This general pattern looks to stay in place through Friday as well.

On Saturday morning, a shortwave trough will pass to the north of the area. This will push precipitation chances inland for areas west of the Cascades, although rainfall in Siskiyou County looks to be limited to western terrain. Curry County and the Cascades may see a quarter to half and inch of rain, with the higher amounts limited to elevated terrain. Snow levels of 5500 to 6500 feet will limit snowfall to the highest peaks and ridgelines in the Cascades. Precipitation dissipates into the afternoon. As the shortwave continues traveling to the east, gusty winds are expected in Lake County. The highest gusts may reach 45 to 50 mph, supporting a Wind Advisory on Saturday afternoon into the evening. Please see NPWMFR for more information.

On Sunday, the Pacific ridge looks to strengthen and is expected to guide the weather through the week ahead. Daytime highs may reach 10 to 20 degrees above seasonal averages across the area. For coastal areas, temperatures in the mid to high 60s are expected. Oregon valleys and basins on either side of the Cascades could see mid to high 70s. Low-lying areas in Siskiyou and Modoc counties could reach the low 80s. Considering NBM probabilistic guidance, Alturas has a 50-60% chance to exceed 80 degrees from Tuesday through Friday, while Montague and Medford have a 10-20% chance in that timeframe. Temperatures could cool into next weekend. -TAD

AVIATION (18Z TAFs)...

KOTH will likely (50%-70%) remain in MVFR conditions throughout the valid TAF cycle. KOTH will also see intermittent showers through this cycle, especially overnight when chances (50%-60%) are the greatest. KRBG will also see intermittent MVFR conditions early today (improving conditions later today) and then MVFR returns again overnight, but will likely miss out on the shower activity. KMFR will likely (70%) remain in VFR through this cycle, with KLMT even more likely (90%) to remain in VFR through this cycle.

-Guerrero

MARINE...Updated 100 PM PDT Thursday, March 12, 2026...Gusty south to southwest winds and steep to very steep seas are expected today north of Cape Blanco with the strongest winds and steepest seas north of the Umpqua River bar. While conditions improve briefly this evening, a front will move southward and could bring another period of gusty southwest winds and steep seas Friday and Friday night followed by a wind shift to northerly by Saturday. Expect showers across the waters on Saturday, but lightning/thunderstorms are not expected.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM PDT Saturday for ORZ031.

CA...None.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory from 5 AM Saturday to 2 AM PDT Sunday for PZZ356-376.

Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM PDT Sunday for PZZ350-370.