textproduct: Medford

UPDATE

Aviation Discussion Updated.

AVIATION...15/06Z TAFs

Valley fog with LIFR/IFR will return to most inland valleys west of the Cascades tonight and persist through Thursday morning and early Thursday afternoon. LIFR/IFR may linger through the day in some valleys such as the Illinois Valley and Grants Pass areas. Elsewhere, expect mainly VFR conditions. Localized IFR/LIFR in fog may develop in the North Bend area as fog from the Coquille Valley drifts in. However, confidence is only moderate given that light offshore northeasterly winds may persist overnight.

PREV DISCUSSION

/Issued 251 PM PST Wed Jan 14 2026/

DISCUSSION...An upper level ridge will remain in control over the area for at least the next seven days, keeping the area dry and unseasonably warm with generally east flow overhead. Temperatures will be especially warm in and around Brookings, where a Chetco Effect of downslope warming is expected today and tomorrow.

Otherwise, persistence remains the appropriate description for the duration of the forecast. While areas outside of the inland valleys will be relatively warm, dry, and with clear skies, the interior valleys will continue to experience strong inversions and stagnant air, with valleys west of the Cascades seeing extensive fog and freezing fog each night and morning. Some of these valleys will clear by late morning or early afternoon each day, but some will remain socked in all day long, or will only clear briefly in the evening before fog settles in again.

An air stagnation advisory remain ins effect, now extended out to Tuesday next week, and in what may become a daily occurrence, another Freezing Fog Advisory has been issued for the West Side valleys, where low visibility and icy roads are likely to develop.

There are some signs that the ridge breaks down about midweek next week, but as in past years, these ridges have been known to be rather resilient, and tend to stick around longer than initially expected, so confidence in a return to a wet pattern anytime soon is low. -BPN

MARINE...Updated 230 PM PST Wednesday, January 14, 2026... Westerly swells will remain in place as a thermal trough builds tonight into Thursday. Seas are expected to peak at around 8 to 13 ft and have a notable wind wave contribution. Because of the steep nature of the seas, a hazardous seas warning has been issued and conditions will be hazardous smaller crafts.

The thermal trough will linger through the latter half of the week. North to northeast winds diminish and swell gradually subsides Thursday night, but wind waves and lingering fresh swell may continue steep seas into early Friday. Conditions will continue to improve Friday into the weekend, with only a slight increase in the height of light swell early next week.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Freezing Fog Advisory until noon PST Thursday for ORZ023-024- 026.

Air Stagnation Advisory until 10 AM PST Tuesday for ORZ023-024- 026-029>031.

CA...Freezing Fog Advisory until noon PST Thursday for CAZ080.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM PST Thursday for PZZ350-356-370.

Hazardous Seas Warning until 10 PM PST Thursday for PZZ356-376.