Alert archive / Oregon / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2019
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Medford, OR
NWS Medford, OR issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 2019, 5:15 PM PDT for Douglas County, Oregon. It was in force for 30 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 31, 2019, 5:15 PM PDT (00:15 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 2019, 5:45 PM PDT
- In force
- 30 min
- Issued by
- NWS Medford, OR
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
County Douglas County, OR
The radar
The Medford radar (KMAX), 139 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:18 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Medford/Jackson, OR (KMFR), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 106 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 118 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -50 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2437 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 10 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -20 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -15 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 31, 2:15 PM PDT, 3 hours earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:15 PM PDT, 3 hours before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
215 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019
.SHORT TERM...Thunderstorms are ongoing and a little less active
compared to about 24 hours ago. We're expecting thunderstorm
activity to move westward a bit this evening and primarily impact
the mountains and areas east of the Cascades. Northern California
should also see a fair amount of thunderstorm activity this
evening.
Most high resolution guidance shows thunderstorms weakening as they
cross over the Cascades. We might hear a few rumbles of thunder this
afternoon near Medford. Thunderstorm activity should again decrease
after sunset and diminish completely after 10 pm as we lose solar
heating.
The upper level low helping destabilize the atmosphere for most of
this week will move southward Saturday. We'll still have a slight
chance for thunderstorms along the higher terrain and east of the
Cascades on Saturday and Sunday. A key point here is the amount of
lightning we see over the weekend will be significantly less than
what we've seen so far this week.
The other big story is how warm it will be for this weekend and the
start of June! We're expecting high temperatures roughly 10 degrees
above normal for this time of year. Saturday and Sunday will be the
warmest days in this forecast cycle as we see a slight cool down
towards the start of next week. Overall, this is looking like the
start of our typical summer pattern.
-Smith
.LONG TERM...Tuesday through Friday, June 4-7, 2019...The flow
pattern across the area will transition to more westerly or west-
southwesterly at the beginning of the period as a flat upper ridge
moves in. This will provide dry, warm weather Tuesday with
temperatures averaging about 5-10 degrees above normal. By
Wednesday, we'll be in broad west-southwest flow aloft ahead of an
upper trough moving southeastward along the coast of British
Columbia. We'll likely squeeze out another warm day for most
areas, especially east of the Cascades, though it could be a bit
breezy in the afternoon.
Then, we have fairly high confidence that the upper trough,
supported by a 100-110kt jet, will move into the PacNW Thursday
into next weekend. This will bring a cool down and a chance of
showers. In addition, there will likely be a period of gusty west-
southwest winds, strongest over the mountains/east side preceding
the trough on Thursday. It could also remain breezy into Friday
with winds transitioning to northwesterly. There is still some
uncertainty with respect to the overall strength/depth of this
trough. So, this could mean the difference between just isolated
showers or the potential for more widespread wetting rainfall
and/or thunderstorms. We'll be honing in on this over the next few
days. -Spilde
&&
.AVIATION...For the 31/18Z TAFS...Marine stratus near and south of
Brookings and also north of Cape Blanco should break up to VFR at
least breiefly this afternoon into early this evening. However,
expect IFR to return to those areas after 02Z.
Inland areas will be predominantly VFR, but isolated to scattered
showers and thunderstorms will develop from the Cascades eastward
and in northern California this afternoon/evening. These may briefly
lower conditions to MVFR/IFR in heavier precipitation. Winds will
also be gusty near thunderstorms and some higher terrain will be
obscured. An isolated shower or thunderstorm could drift out over
eastern Douglas/Jackson Counties this evening. -Spilde
&&
.MARINE...Updated 200 PM PDT Friday 31 May 2019...The thermal trough
pattern will continue through at least early next week. Moderate to
strong north winds and steep to very steep wind driven seas are
occurring and will continue through at least the start of next week.
With this long duration event, seas will gradually increase and
steepen over time with very steep and hazardous seas likely
occurring south of Gold Beach.
Winds and seas will peak during the afternoons and evenings, with
the strongest winds and highest seas south of Cape Blanco. As the
thermal trough deepens, conditions will deteriorate further
starting this afternoon and lasting through Sunday. Hazardous seas
will spread north to Cape Blanco with gales expected south of Gold
Beach Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Winds are expected
to drop below gales Sunday night and the coverage area of hazardous
seas warning conditions is also expected to shrink to just the outer
waters beyond 20 nm from shore and south of Gold beach.
Small craft advisory conditions will occur over the remainder of the
area through Monday afternoon, and possibly beyond. The models are
in fairly good agreement showing a weak front moving onshore
Wednesday which should disrupt the strong northerly wind pattern.
-Schaaf/Sven
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...None.
CA...None.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Monday
for PZZ350-356-370-376.
Gale Warning until 5 AM PDT Sunday for PZZ356-376.
Hazardous Seas Warning until 5 AM PDT Monday for PZZ376.
CZS/MAS/BMSIn the hours before
Special weather statement, May 31, 3:30 PM PDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Medford OR 330 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ORZ023-025>027-312300- South Central Oregon Cascades-Jackson County-Eastern Douglas County Foothills-Central Douglas County- 330 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN DOUGLAS AND NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES... At 327 PM PDT, an area of strong thunderstorms was clustered 7 miles southeast of South Umpqua Falls Campground, or 22 miles west of Crater Lake, moving southwest at 10 mph. Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Natural Bridge Campground, and areas along the Umpqua Divide east of Highway 227. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4310 12253 4294 12241 4265 12275 4294 12285 TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 061DEG 7KT 4299 12256 BPN
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:37 PM PDT, 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Medford OR 437 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ORZ025-027-010000- South Central Oregon Cascades-Eastern Douglas County Foothills- 437 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL DOUGLAS AND NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTIES... At 435 PM PDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near South Umpqua Falls Campground, or 27 miles west of Crater Lake, and was nearly stationary. Winds in excess of 30 mph, frequent lightning, and nickel size hail are possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... South Umpqua Falls Campground, and other camping and recreational facilities along the South Umpqua River. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes. LAT...LON 4313 12261 4295 12253 4286 12274 4307 12278 TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 189DEG 7KT 4306 12262 BPN
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:51 PM PDT, 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Medford OR 451 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ORZ025-027-010015- South Central Oregon Cascades-Eastern Douglas County Foothills- 451 PM PDT Fri May 31 2019 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY... At 450 PM PDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Toketee Falls, or 26 miles northwest of Crater Lake. The storm is nearly stationary. Half inch hail is possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of eastern Douglas County, south of Toketee Falls. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes. LAT...LON 4310 12244 4312 12258 4327 12255 4323 12236 TIME...MOT...LOC 2350Z 056DEG 3KT 4319 12247 BPN
Special weather statement, May 31, 5:11 PM PDT, 4 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Medford, OR issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 5:00 PM PDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MFR | Douglas | 30 min |
| May 31, 5:11 PM PDT | Special Weather Statement | MFR | Douglas | 34 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Oregon, 2019Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2019
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.