textproduct: Medford

UPDATE

Aviation Discussion updated.

DISCUSSION...(Issued 712 AM PDT)

Radar and satellite indicates a band of rain offshore, associated with the approaching cold front. Gusty southwest winds will be increasing today into the early evening, strongest for the coast, higher terrain, and east side...especially from Winter Rim eastward across Lake County. Southwest winds have already begun to gust to 39 mph at Summer Lake, with gusts to 55 mph likely there later today.

The front will also bring rain to the west side and northern Klamath County through Wednesday evening (though mainly this afternoon and evening), with a half inch to 2 inches for the coast, up to a quarter inch for inland portions of southwest Oregon, and up to a tenth of an inch for far western Siskiyou and northern Klamath counties.

High pressure will build in Thursday into the weekend with colder nights and warmer afternoons. Inland high temperatures will again become 10 to 20 degrees above normal (mostly in the 70s), and the warming will extend to Brookings during Thursday and Friday with downslope northeast low level flow possibly bringing highs into the lower 70s.

The outlook is still for a more active, but also more complex pattern of onshore flow next week (day 8 to 14) to end March and start April. Uncertainties include the extent to which the upper level flow will split and the timing and track of the most vigorous pieces of energy, which if they arrive here, could bring periods of cooler, wetter weather. But, the probability is increasing that periods of measureable rain will extend across all of our area next week, after Monday afternoon.

AVIATION...24/18Z TAFs

A cold front is moving onshore. This will bring gusty southerly winds and areas of low level wind shear to the coast. Low level wind shear conditions are expected through around 21Z. The coast, including North Bend, will see light to moderate rain with a mix of IFR/MVFR today into this evening. Coastal rain tapers to a chance of showers after 03Z, but the lower ceilings and patchy fog will persist into early Wednesday.

From the Coast Range to the Cascades expect gradually lowering ceilings and increasing southwest winds today. Rain gradually spreads inland this afternoon and evening. Areas of MVFR ceilings and local IFR will develop, initially in the Umpqua Valley late this afternoon, then into parts of Jackson and Josephine counties this evening and tonight. Conditions are expected to lift to VFR in the mid to late morning on Wednesday. Mountain obscurations are expected as well from the Cascades west. For the east side, gusty, southwest winds are expected through 03Z, strongest in eastern Klamath and Lake counties.

MARINE...Updated 200 AM PDT Tuesday, March 24, 2026

A cold front will produce south gales and very steep seas north of Cape Blanco today, with steep seas south of Cape Blanco. Steep seas linger this evening while winds veer to west and diminish. Seas become swell dominated tonight while slightly and briefly diminishing into Wednesday morning.

A thermal trough will develop Wednesday and strengthen into Thursday with the strongest winds south of Cape Blanco, and seas again becoming wind wave dominated. Northwest winds in the southern waters are likely to reach Small Craft Advisory strength Wednesday afternoon, then gales become possible Thursday afternoon into Thursday night. The thermal trough is expected to push slightly offshore on Thursday night into Friday with the strongest northerly winds becoming limited to the outer portion of the waters while fresh swell likely also continues steep seas in the inner waters. Brief improvement is likely later Saturday into Sunday, then conditions are likely to deteriorate again early next week with the pattern becoming more active.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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

CA...None.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ356-376.

Gale Warning until 5 PM PDT this afternoon for PZZ350-370.

Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ350-370.