Medford, Ore. – Southern Oregon skies may deliver a rare double punch tonight: dangerous late-summer heat and a chance to see the Northern Lights. The Rogue Valley faces triple-digit highs Tuesday, while skies after midnight could briefly glow with auroras if clouds stay clear.
According to the National Weather Service in Medford, Labor Day heat will climb into the mid-90s before Tuesday surges to a scorching 101 degrees. At the same time, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center reports a coronal mass ejection racing toward Earth could spark visible auroras across Oregon through Tuesday morning.
Areas of lingering wildfire smoke could limit visibility, especially along Interstate 5 near Ashland and Grants Pass. Drivers are urged to use caution and limit non-essential travel if smoke thickens overnight. Power grid fluctuations are also possible under geomagnetic storm conditions, though the biggest local concern remains dangerous heat.
By Wednesday, highs will ease slightly into the upper 90s but remain well above normal for the start of meteorological fall. Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor work during peak afternoon heat, and keep devices charged in case of scattered outages.
The heat dome is expected to persist through late week, though daytime highs should trend closer to the upper 80s by the weekend. Smoke from regional fires may continue to impact air quality, especially during the evening hours.
Warnings remain in effect through Tuesday evening, and further advisories may follow if air quality worsens or auroras strengthen.
Five-Day Forecast for Medford, Oregon
- Tuesday: High 101, low 66. Hot, slight chance of evening thunderstorms.
- Wednesday: High 97, low 65. Mostly sunny and hot.
- Thursday: High 98, low 68. Sunny, smoky at times.
- Friday: High 92, low 63. Partly cloudy, warm.
- Saturday: High 89, low 61. Pleasant with sunshine.
