Medford, OR – A more active winter pattern may develop across parts of the United States next week as the Climate Prediction Center highlights heavy snow risks between December 10 and 16, including several regions from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest and Northeast. The new outlook—labeled experimental—shows both moderate and slight chances of impactful snowfall in different parts of the country.
According to the CPC, a moderate risk (40–60%) of heavy snow is forecast for portions of Washington and Oregon from December 10–11, particularly over the Cascades. Surrounding areas of the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Rockies, and Intermountain West carry a slight risk (20–40%) over the same period.
Farther east, slight heavy snow risk areas also appear over parts of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley, and into the Northeast, generally between December 10–12. These early signals indicate potential storm development but come with sizable uncertainty at this lead time.
Closer to the West Coast, the National Weather Service in Medford says a weaker storm system will arrive much sooner—bringing light rainfall Friday, then better rain chances Friday night through Saturday, and lingering showers into Sunday. Forecast 48-hour rainfall totals range from 0.40″ to 0.87″ in the interior valleys and coastal areas, with lower amounts east of the Cascades.
Snow levels are expected to remain high—near 6,000 feet Saturday night—meaning little to no snow is expected in most populated areas. Widespread flooding is not anticipated.
Forecasters say attention should shift to December 9–12, as this time frame may mark the beginning of the next active weather pattern across the broader western U.S. Confidence remains low, but updates are expected in the days ahead.
