textproduct: Medford

Updated AVIATION Discussion

AVIATION...16/00Z TAFs

VFR conditions generally prevail across the region, though widepsread terrain obscurations are occurring. A front is currently passing through the region bringing periods of MVFR conditions in cig/vsbys along with widespread gusty winds. Showers will continue overnight, focused along and north of the Rogue/Umpqua Divide and this should limit any fog development overnight. However, if there is enough clearing, areas of LIFR conditions could develop in West Side Valleys. The more likely scenario is a low end VFR/MVFR stratus deck lingers over the West Side into Thursday morning. Expect conditions to lift to VFR by Thursday afternoon with a round of gusty north to northwest winds developing area wide. /BR-y

PREV DISCUSSION

/Issued 1253 PM PDT Wed Apr 15 2026/

DISCUSSION...The front is passing through the area this afternoon, with rain, gusty winds, and mountain snow. Steady rain will taper off as the front passes to the south and east later today, with showers continuing overnight, and potentially some isolated showers persisting into Thursday morning along the coast and the northern Cascades.

The cold air mass behind the front looks to bring cool overnight lows from tonight into Thursday morning and again from Thursday night into Friday morning. A Frost Advisory will be in place for the Rogue, Applegate, and Illinois valleys for tonight into Thursday, as lingering cloud cover looks to keep temperatures just above freezing concerns. Localized freezing conditions may be possible in some areas, notably in the southern Illinois Valley. A Freeze Watch covers the Thursday night-Friday morning timeframe, as there's some question how cold that night will get.

A number of hazard products are in place to further communicate the impacts of this active period. A Winter Weather Advisory for the Cascades from Crater Lake northward and above 4000 feet remains in place through Thursday morning. A Wind Advisory for most of Lake County as well as the Warner Mountains and areas north of Alturas in Modoc County highlights dangerous travel conditions in these areas.

An upper ridge will bring drier conditions and warmer daytime highs on Friday and Saturday. Long-term guidance shows a low pressure system approaching from the northwest. Details for this system remain coarse, with some variations between the ECMWF and GFS outcomes. This system may bring a southerly flow pattern that tends to focus precipitation at Curry County as well as parts of western Siskiyou County, per ECMWF imagery. Or it might bounce off a ridge and linger over the Pacific before moving inland on Monday, per GFS imagery. Initial snow levels are in the 5000-7000 foot range, which would limit winter impacts. Showers may continue beyond Monday, depending on how this system behaves.

MARINE...Updated 1200 PM PDT Wednesday, April 15, 2026...A passing front will continue to bring breezy winds and steep seas across all waters through tomorrow afternoon. Isolated showers are possible tonight through tomorrow morning, and there could be an embedded thunderstorm tonight (20%-25%) around and north/northwest of Cape Blanco. Localized areas of very steep and hazardous seas are possible north of Cape Blanco tonight. Conditions improve late Thursday afternoon; however, a weak thermal trough may bring gusty northerly winds to the waters south of Cape Blanco late Thursday into Friday. Another active system may bring additional rainfall and steep seas this weekend.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Frost Advisory from 3 AM to 9 AM PDT Thursday for ORZ024-026.

Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for ORZ024.

Wind Advisory until 8 PM PDT this evening for ORZ030-031.

Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM PDT Thursday for ORZ027.

CA...Frost Advisory from 3 AM to 9 AM PDT Thursday for CAZ080.

Freeze Watch from late Thursday night through Friday morning for CAZ080.

Wind Advisory until 8 PM PDT this evening for CAZ085.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Thursday for PZZ350-356-370-376.