Oregon – Cold, still air settles deep into the Rogue Valley this morning, trapping exhaust, smoke, and other pollutants close to the ground. The valley looks clear, but the air feels heavy, especially during early hours when temperatures hover near freezing.
According to the National Weather Service in Medford, an Air Stagnation Advisory remains in effect for Jackson County until late Friday afternoon. A strong temperature inversion and weak winds are preventing air from mixing, allowing pollutants to build near the surface.
Medford, Ashland, Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, and Talent are all impacted. Morning lows dip into the upper 20s and lower 30s, locking cold air into the valley floor. Patchy fog adds to the stagnant conditions before thinning later in the day. Afternoon sunshine helps temperatures rebound into the upper 40s and low 50s, but winds remain too light to clear the air.
People with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions may notice symptoms worsen, especially during the morning and evening hours. Officials recommend limiting outdoor activity, avoiding wood burning if possible, and reducing vehicle trips to prevent further air quality degradation.
By Saturday, clearer skies and slightly better mixing improve conditions, with highs near 50 and colder nights returning. Sunday stays dry and partly sunny, though calm conditions could allow pockets of stagnant air to redevelop overnight. Early next week remains quiet, with clouds increasing and rain chances returning by midweek, which would help scrub the air.
For now, the biggest impacts remain health-related rather than travel-related. Residents should stay informed, follow medical guidance, and take simple steps to limit pollution during the advisory.
Sensitive to poor air quality today? Tell us how conditions feel where you live in the Rogue Valley.
Five Day Outlook for Medford, Oregon
Today: Patchy fog early, then mostly sunny, high near 52.
Friday: Patchy fog early, then sunny, high near 49.
Saturday: Sunny, high near 50.
Sunday: Partly sunny, high near 49.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, high near 49.
