MEDFORD, Ore. – The first significant taste of winter may arrive late next week across southern Oregon’s higher elevations. The National Weather Service in Medford says early forecasts point to a potential risk of heavy snowfall across mountain passes and ridgelines above 5,000 feet between October 25 and 26.
According to the NWS Medford office, confidence remains moderate at this stage, but conditions could bring the season’s first hazardous winter event to the Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains. The setup could produce several inches of snow on higher terrain, with travel difficulties developing along Highway 140, I-5 near Siskiyou Summit, and portions of U.S. 97 if the system materializes as projected.
Forecasters emphasize that details on snow amounts and timing are still uncertain, but colder air and moisture are likely to converge late next week. Even light accumulations may impact early-morning commuters and mountain travelers.
Motorists planning trips through mountain passes are advised to monitor updated forecasts and prepare for possible winter driving conditions. The storm could mark the first meaningful snow of the 2025–26 cold season for the region.
