Medford, OR. – Drivers heading over the Cascades could run into slick, snow-covered roads by Wednesday afternoon as a winter weather advisory targets higher elevations around Crater Lake.
According to the National Weather Service in Medford, areas above 5,000 feet near Crater Lake face the highest chance of picking up at least 6 inches of snow by Wednesday night. The advisory covers mountain highways and passes where travel disruptions are possible. Forecasters also expect breezy to gusty winds to develop statewide Wednesday, with peak gusts during the mid to late afternoon and early evening.
Across Southern Oregon, rain spreads inland from the coast, with a strong likelihood of at least a half-inch from Brookings and Gold Beach north through Coos Bay and inland toward Roseburg. The Rogue Valley, including Medford and Ashland, carries a lower rainfall probability but could still see periods of steady showers. East of the Cascades, Klamath Falls may see wind gusts near 40 mph, creating crosswinds on highways such as U.S. 97 and Oregon Route 140.
Travelers should slow down over mountain passes, check ODOT road conditions before departing, and secure loose outdoor items ahead of gusty winds. The unsettled pattern holds through Wednesday night, and additional advisories could follow if snow totals increase.
