Medford, OR – Travel along Interstate 5 and mountain highways in southern Oregon and northern California will become dangerous overnight as heavy snow drops to unusually low elevations through Thursday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Medford, Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect until 10 a.m. Thursday for western and central Siskiyou County in California and for elevations above 1,500 to 2,000 feet in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties in Oregon. Winter Weather Advisories cover lower elevations, including Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass and Roseburg.
In Siskiyou County, 6 to 12 inches of snow are expected, with 1 to 3 feet above 5,000 feet and up to 15 inches near Mount Shasta. Snow levels will drop to 1,000 to 1,500 feet tonight. In southern Oregon, 4 to 12 inches are likely above 2,000 feet, with 2 to 6 inches possible in some valleys. The Kalmiopsis Wilderness could see up to 2 feet.
Black Butte Pass on I-5, Sexton Pass, Hayes Hill on Highway 199 and Jacksonville Hill may become snow-covered and slick. Winds up to 40 mph over higher terrain will create blowing snow and reduced visibility.
Officials urge residents to delay travel and check tripcheck.com or QuickMap for updates. The heaviest snow falls overnight into Tuesday morning, with additional rounds possible Wednesday night into Thursday.
