textproduct: Medford

UPDATE

Aviation Discussion Updated.

AVIATION...26/12Z TAFs

Rain and snow showers will continue today into tonight. Snow levels will be around 3500 to 4500 feet msl through Friday afternoon, then 2500 to 3000 feet msl Friday night with lingering, lighter snow showers.

MVFR is expected to be the predominant condition in showers through this evening with obscuration of higher terrain. But, occasional LIFR/IFR is also possible with heavier showers and snow showers. Additionally, LIFR is present in the Roseburg area early this morning, but ceilings are expected to lift as showers move into the area. Gusty winds are also expected today, especially across the mountains and east of the Cascades. Areas of low level wind shear will are expected through this morning, mainly over the Coast Range, northern California and for areas east of the Cascades.

Tonight into Saturday morning, as showers decrease in coverage and intensity, expect areas of low clouds and fog with LIFR/IFR in valleys west of the Cascades. Otherwise expect a mix of VFR with areas of MVFR conditions in showers.

PREV DISCUSSION

/Issued 258 AM PST Fri Dec 26 2025/

DISCUSSION...Current satellite imagery shows a low pressure centered just off the southern Oregon and northern California coast. The low will gradually move eastward and across the area today, bringing continued areas of rain and snow. Snow levels are expected to continue at around 3500 to 4000 ft today. This pattern will result in continued snow impacts over higher mountain passes, in the Mount Shasta City area and for areas east of the Cascades. Overnight, bands of heavier precipitation moved across the area bringing periods of moderate to locally heavy snowfall to the mountains and to areas east of the Cascades. Radar imagery shows mainly light precipitation over inland areas with rain increasing along the southern Oregon coast. As the low moves inland this morning, models support precipitation increasing, initially from the Cascades west early this morning, then spreading across the area late this morning and afternoon. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect today. Please see the WSWMFR for details. In addition to rain and snow, with this low passage, periods of gusty winds are expected in the Shasta Valley, east of the Cascades and over mountains.

The low will gradually exit the area tonight into Saturday morning. Moist onshore flow will continue to bring showers into NW sections, mainly from the Southern Oregon Cascades west. However, things should begin to dry out elsewhere.

A high pressure ridge will set up off the coast and a cold, dry air mass will move into the area Saturday night. This will be one of the colder nights of the season thus far. We are expecting widespread low temperatures in the 10-15F range east of the Cascades, 20-30F in the valleys of central and western Siskiyou County and 25-35F west of the Cascades. Of course, on the west side, a lot will depend on amount of low cloud cover and/or fog that develops. That'll be our main forecast challenge this weekend. Current guidance supports areas of valley fog developing west of the Cascades, including in the Rogue, Illinois, Applegate, and Umpqua valleys. Additionally, with temperatures dropping to or below freezing in some areas, expect periods of freezing fog, including in the Rogue, Illinois and Applegate valleys.

Dry weather is likely through around Wednesday. Then, ensembles are showing potential for another low pressure system to bring precipitation beginning around New Year's Day. Although confidence is moderate to high for active weather starting around New Year's, there is low confidence on the details since model solutions show significant variability on the pattern, with some solutions favoring a frontal system moving in from the northwest and others indicating a low moving up from the southwest.

MARINE...Updated 200 AM PST Friday, December 26, 2025...As the low pressure moves east over the waters overnight and this morning, expect continued areas of gales for the waters from Cape Blanco south. Winds will shift from south to northwest as this low moves through this morning. Very steep seas will persist across all the waters through this morning. Gusty north winds (20-30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph) are expected to develop this afternoon, then gradually lower late this evening into Saturday. Steep are expected for all the waters this afternoon through Saturday afternoon. Gusty north winds and steep seas may persist across the waters south of Capo Blanco into Sunday.

MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM PST this morning for ORZ027>031.

CA...Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for CAZ080- 082-083-085.

Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM PST this morning for CAZ085.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Gale Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for PZZ356-376.

Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST Saturday for PZZ350-356-370-376.

Hazardous Seas Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for PZZ350- 370.