Medford, Oregon – Thunderstorms are expected to return Sunday afternoon across southern Oregon and northern California, bringing lightning, gusty winds, and heightened fire danger through late Monday. The greatest activity is forecast Sunday evening across east-central Siskiyou County, the Klamath Basin, and the Fremont-Winema National Forest region.
According to the National Weather Service in Medford, an upper-level trough is triggering widespread lightning potential across Jackson, Klamath, Modoc, and Lake counties Sunday through early Monday. Wind gusts could reach 40 mph in storm cells, while brief downpours, small hail, and dry strikes may lead to new fire starts, particularly in elevated or grassy terrain.
The threat diminishes significantly by Monday as a more stable pattern develops, though isolated nocturnal storms remain possible east of the Cascades. Outdoor recreationists, especially near Crater Lake and the Lava Beds National Monument, should plan for sudden weather shifts and remain off exposed ridgelines.
Residents and visitors are urged to stay weather-aware, postpone mountain hikes if possible, and avoid activities that could spark fires. Emergency managers warn that lightning-caused fires may smolder unnoticed before flaring up hours later.
Thunderstorm advisories remain in effect through Monday night, with additional updates expected if conditions worsen.
