textproduct: Medford

KEY MESSAGES

* Cold air is settling into the region behind the departing front.

* Mostly clear skies will result in cold overnight lows in area valleys. A Frost Advisory is in effect for the Umpqua and Coquille valleys tonight into Saturday morning. * The next frontal system arrives late Sunday into Monday with light rain along and west of the Cascades, and gusty winds and little to no rain to the east of the Cascades.

* There is high forecast uncertainty beyond Tuesday, with additional systems possible.

DISCUSSION

Upper level ridging is building in over the area, with a cold, dry air mass settling in at the surface behind the departing system. Quiet, low impact weather is expected through the weekend. With clear skies expected tonight, low temperatures through the morning will be the coolest of the forecast period and widespread frost/freeze conditions are expected in the West Side Valleys. A frost advisory has been issued only for the Umpqua and Coquille valleys as all other inland areas have experienced a freeze this season.

With broad east flow and high pressure building overhead, temperatures will warm quickly Saturday. It will be cool again Saturday night, but not as cold as the east winds continue and downsloping winds help keep temperatures warmer than otherwise. The temperatures should be warm enough to prevent any additional widespread frost/freeze concerns where growing season hasn't quite ended yet.

A closed upper-level low will dig south from the Gulf of Alaska, arriving offshore of Oregon by Sunday afternoon. The trough will then push onshore with a surface front late Sunday into Monday morning. Moisture is limited, so precipitation will mostly stay along and west of the Cascades, but a few showers may make it over the East Side. Snow levels will be high enough to keep all the passes clear from any winter weather, but the higher peaks may add some white color to their peaks. Breezy to gusty winds are also possible Monday, but should stay well below any headline criteria. All-in-all, a weak system, but one that will bring beneficial moisture to some areas.

Tuesday through the rest of the week, there is a high degree of uncertainty across the forecast model suites. Some solutions depict brief periods of ridging with intermittent waves moving through, while others keep some form of cyclonic flow overhead through most of the week. This uncertainty mostly stems from the models having a tough time resolving the behavior and effects of upstream closed/cut-off lows, and this is no exception.

AVIATION...23/18Z TAFs

VFR conditions will prevail across the area through the next 24 hours, with gusty north winds expected over the coastal waters and along the coast through tonight.

MARINE...Updated 1230 PM PDT Friday, October 23, 2026

Gusty north winds and very steep seas today will gradually diminish and retreat to the south tonight into Saturday as the thermal trough weakens. Improved conditions are expected for all areas over the weekend, though steep seas may linger in southern waters through Saturday evening. A front will pass through the waters late Sunday into Monday with south winds and steep seas possible. Improved conditions are expected by midweek, with models uncertain on the arrival of another system Wednesday or Thursday.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Frost Advisory from 2 AM to 10 AM PDT Saturday for ORZ021-023.

CA...None.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM PDT Saturday for PZZ350-356-370-376.

Hazardous Seas Warning until 8 AM PDT Saturday for PZZ356-376.