Red Flag Warning 9, NWS Medford, OR

730 
WWUS86 KMFR 212343
RFWMFR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
443 PM PDT Tue Jul 21 2026

ORZ617-622>625-221415-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0009.260722T1800Z-260723T0600Z/
Umpqua National Forest-Eastern Rogue Valley-
Southern Oregon Cascades-Klamath Basin and the Fremont-
Winema National Forest-
South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern
Lake and Western Harney Counties-
443 PM PDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM PDT
WEDNESDAY FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER
ZONES 617, 622, 623, 624, AND 625...

* AFFECTED AREA...Areas in southern Oregon along and east of the
  Cascades and along the western foothills and slopes of the
  Cascades, including Fire Weather Zones 617...622...623...624 and
  625.

* THUNDERSTORMS...Moving roughly north to northeast around 20 mph.
  Storm mode will be mostly wet thunderstorms, but dry lightning
  strikes can occur outside of wet cores.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Isolated gusts up to 45 mph.

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. You can find your county's
emergency sign up form as well as links to fire restrictions at
weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less wildfire.

Be sure you're signed up for your county's emergency alert
system. Familiarize yourself with your emergency plan and make
sure you listen to emergency services. Visit ready.gov/plan for
more information.

A Red Flag Warning is issued when we identify weather conditions
that promote rapid spread of fire which may become life-
threatening. This does not mean there is a fire. These conditions
are either occurring now or will begin soon. It is important to
have multiple ways to receive information from authorities.

&&

$$


Visit us at www.weather.gov/Medford

771 
WWUS86 KMFR 220807
RFWMFR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
107 AM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

ORZ624-625-230600-
/O.NEW.KMFR.FW.A.0005.260724T2000Z-260726T0400Z/
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0009.260722T1800Z-260723T0600Z/
Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest-
South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern
Lake and Western Harney Counties-
107 AM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR 
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 624 AND 625...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 624 AND 625...

The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Fire Weather
Watch, which is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday
evening. 

* RED FLAG WARNING AFFECTED AREA...Areas in southern Oregon along
  and east of the Cascades, but primarily north and east of a line
  from Chiloquin and Sprague River to Lakeview in Fire Weather 
  Zones 624 and 625.
  
* THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...Moving roughly north to northeast around
  20 mph. Storm mode will be mostly wet thunderstorms, but dry
  lightning strikes can occur outside of wet cores. Some of the
  stronger storms will contain hail.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Isolated gusts up to 45 mph.

* FIRE WEATHER WATCH AFFECTED AREA...Nearly all areas east of the
  Cascades in Fire Weather Zones 624 and 625. 

* WINDS...Southwest to west 10 to 20 mph with gusts 30 to 40 mph 
  both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. 

* MINIMUM HUMIDITY...5 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. You can find your county's
emergency sign up form as well as links to fire restrictions at
weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less wildfire.

&&

$$

ORZ617-622-623-230600-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0009.260722T1800Z-260723T0600Z/
Umpqua National Forest-Eastern Rogue Valley-
Southern Oregon Cascades-
107 AM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO
11 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR 
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 617, 622, AND 623...

* AFFECTED AREA...Areas in southern Oregon along the Cascades and
  along the western foothills and slopes of the Cascades, 
  including Fire Weather Zones 617...622...and 623. 

* THUNDERSTORMS...Moving roughly north to northeast around 20 mph.
  Storm mode will be mostly wet thunderstorms, but dry lightning
  strikes can occur outside of wet cores. Some stronger storms
  will contain hail.

* OUTFLOW WINDS...Isolated gusts up to 45 mph.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Breezy southwest to west winds with lower
  humidity and unstable conditions will develop each afternoon 
  and evening Thursday through this weekend. Any new fire starts 
  will have the ability to spread rapidly. 

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. You can find your county's
emergency sign up form as well as links to fire restrictions at
weather.gov/medford/wildfire. One less spark, one less wildfire.

&&

$$

CAZ284-285-230600-
/O.NEW.KMFR.FW.A.0005.260724T2000Z-260726T0400Z/
Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt
Shasta-Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley-
107 AM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH FOR FIRE 
WEATHER ZONES 284 AND 285...

The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Fire Weather
Watch, which is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday
evening. 

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

* AFFECTED AREA...The Klamath, Shasta and Modoc National Forests
  in northern California, including Fire Weather Zones 284 and
  285. 

* WINDS...Southwest to west 10 to 20 mph with gusts 30 to 40 mph 
  both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. 

* MINIMUM HUMIDITY...5 to 15 percent. 

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that could cause
sparks. Visit weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire
restrictions in your area.

&&

$$


Visit us at www.weather.gov/Medford

000 
WWUS86 KMFR 230530
RFWMFR

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
1030 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

ORZ624-625-240000-
/O.CAN.KMFR.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260723T0600Z/
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0005.260724T2000Z-260726T0400Z/
Klamath Basin and the Fremont-Winema National Forest-
South Central Oregon Desert including the BLM Land in Eastern
Lake and Western Harney Counties-
1030 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 624 AND 625...

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 624 AND 625...

* FIRE WEATHER WATCH AFFECTED AREA...Nearly all areas east of 
  the Cascades in Fire Weather Zones 624 and 625. 

* WINDS...Southwest to west 10 to 20 mph with gusts 30 to 40 
  mph both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. 

* MINIMUM HUMIDITY...5 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that could cause
sparks. Visit weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire
restrictions in your area.
          
If you have not packet your go kit yet, now is the time to do so.
This includes items like important documents and essentials you
cannot live without. Fill your vehicle's fuel tank. Visit
ready.gov/kit for more information.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could
promote the rapid spread of wildfires which could become life-
threatening. Check weather.gov/medford for forecast updates and a
possible upgrade of the this watch to a Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$

ORZ617-622-623-230630-
/O.CAN.KMFR.FW.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260723T0600Z/
Umpqua National Forest-Eastern Rogue Valley-
Southern Oregon Cascades-
1030 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH
FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 617, 622, AND 623...

The National Weather Service in Medford has cancelled the Red
Flag Warning. 

$$

CAZ284-285-240000-
/O.CON.KMFR.FW.A.0005.260724T2000Z-260726T0400Z/
Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt
Shasta-Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley-
1030 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND AND LOW RH FOR
FIRE WEATHER ZONES 284 AND 285...

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.

* AFFECTED AREA...The Klamath, Shasta and Modoc National 
  Forests in northern California, including Fire Weather Zones 
  284 and 285.

* WINDS...Southwest to west 10 to 20 mph with gusts 30 to 40 
  mph both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. 

* MINIMUM HUMIDITY...5 to 15 percent.

* DETAILED URL...View the hazard area in detail at 
  https://weather.gov/wrh/hazards?wfo=mfr

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Follow all fire restrictions. Avoid activities that could cause
sparks. Visit weather.gov/medford/wildfire for links to fire
restrictions in your area.

&&

$$


Visit us at www.weather.gov/Medford

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
1050 AM PDT Tue Jul 21 2026

...Updated AVIATION discussion for 18Z TAFs...

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Today and Wednesday will be the hottest of the next several days
  with highs generally 5 to 10 degrees above normal (mid 80s to
  mid 90s on the east side and lower 90s to 103 for west side
  valleys). Near or slightly below normal temperatures at the
  coast will reach the 60s.

* Isolated light showers this morning, especially in Modoc/Lake
  counties will give way to isolated thunderstorms this
  afternoon/evening. Highest risk is in the Cascades north of
  Crater Lake, but can occur anywhere from the mountains of
  western Siskiyou County up the Cascades, over to Winter Rim and
  the Warner mountains.

* The highest risk of thunderstorms for the area will be on
  Wednesday (could reach scattered coverage Cascades/Foothills
  eastward), including lesser chances for areas west of the
  Cascades. Some storms will be strong with gusty winds and
  possible hail. Best chance for this is up the Cascades into the
  Douglas County foothills and over to NW Klamath County.

* A drier pattern takes hold late week, but probably with an
  increase in afternoon/evening breezes, especially east of the
  Cascades.

&&

.DISCUSSION...The forecast area remains wedged in between a strong
ridge over the nation's mid section/Rockies and low pressure off
the California coast (including tropical remnants). Monsoonal
moisture continues to stream northward into the area and is
generating a few light showers from Modoc into Lake County this
morning. This flow pattern hasn't allowed things to cool off as
readily at night, as evidenced by the daily record highest
minimum set here at Medford yesterday morning (71F). The record
was 68F set in 2023. It's a little cooler than it was at this time
yesterday morning, but still warmer than usual (70F). We're still
expecting some high-mid level clouds today. Even so, we should
see at least a thinning of the high cloud cover, so some
instability could generate isolated thunderstorms, mainly near or
just north of Crater Lake in the Cascades and southeastward down
to around the Warners during the afternoon/evening.

Wednesday, stronger southerly flow aloft is expected between the
trough offshore tracking northward (including the remnants of
Tropical Storm Elida) and the persistent ridge over the Great
Basin/Rockies. There is still a modest amount of uncertainty in
the convective forecast (especially with areal extent), but there
is a decent chance of scattered thunderstorm coverage over a
broad portion of our area, to include areas from the Cascades
eastward and also portions of the west side (most likely Douglas
County east of Roseburg, but also the Siskiyous and western
foothills of the Cascades south and east of the Rogue Valley).
Farther south and west, coverage should be more isolated or non-
existent (coast). Storms do look to trend wetter over time with
highest precipitable water values at around 200% of normal
(perhaps near or above 1.50 inches). While a widespread severe
weather outbreak is not likely, a stronger cell or two could
produce strong, gusty winds and hail. This appears most likely
over the Cascades near/north of Crater Lake, the eastern Douglas
Foothills and also NW Klamath County. Generally, any storms that
develop Wednesday will move to the north to northeast, contain
frequent lightning, small hail, and gusty winds, and could produce
periods of heavy rainfall.

The region of greatest instability looks to shift northeastward
out of the area Thursday with a shift to an onshore flow pattern
Friday into this weekend. The result will be a more stable, dry
air mass, but along with enhanced afternoon and evening winds.
This will be the case here in the Rogue Valley, but also
especially for areas east of the Cascade. -Spilde/BPN

&&

.AVIATION...21/18Z TAFs...LIFR ceilings and low visibility remain
over North Bend at the start of the TAF period, but with signs of
clearing on satellite. A brief period of VFR levels is possible
before stratus reforms and brings IFR/LIFR levels through the end of
the TAF period.

Inland areas will generally see VFR levels under high ceilings.
Periods of patchy smoke are possible at the Medford and Klamath
Falls terminals, but should not greatly impact visibility. For this
afternoon and evening, slight chances of thunderstorms are present
for Lake, Klamath, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties as well as over the
Cascades. Thunderstorms are capable of bringing locally lower
ceilings and visibilities as well as lightning and gusty, erratic
winds. Isolated activity may continue into early Wednesday morning,
for inland areas, with slight chances for thunderstorms for parts of
the Oregon coast towards the end of the TAF period. -TAD

&&

.MARINE...Updated 200 AM PDT Tuesday, July 21, 2026...Winds and seas
are expected to remain below advisory levels through at least this
weekend. North winds today switch to southerly Wednesday as the
remnants of Elida move northward offshore. Isolated showers and even
a couple of thunderstorms are possible. Mixed seas with fresh short
period northwest swell and low longer period south swell are
expected through Friday. South winds switch back to northerly this
weekend, but wind wave dominated seas probably hold off until early
next week. -Spilde

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Updated 230 AM PDT Tuesday, July 21, 2026...A large
upper ridge remains centered over the Great Basin/Rockies and into
the southern Plains, while low pressure is off the California coast.
Southerly flow aloft continues to bring a broad moist plume
northward across much of the West and this is resulting a swaths of
mid-high level clouds across NW Nevada, northern California and into
south-central/SW Oregon. We are seeing another thicker area of
clouds this morning across NE California, and this is bringing some
scattered light showers from Modoc into Lake County at this time.
Isolated showers are also moving up from Trinity County into western
Siskiyou County. Most of these are aloft, but some could reach the
surface, especially over the higher terrain. The cloud cover won't
be quite as thick (or persistent) as it was yesterday and this
should allow temps today to be near or several degrees higher than
yesterday. As such, the atmosphere should destabilize a bit better
today. By this afternoon and evening, cumulus buildups are expected
with a slight chance of thunderstorms in western and central
Siskiyou County, also north and northeastward along the Cascades and
across much of south central Oregon and also Modoc County in NE Cal.
Coverage of lightning doesn't appear to be very high (mainly
isolated), so despite the lightning risk, we aren't planning any red
flag warnings for today.

On Wednesday, there is a greater concern for increased afternoon and
evening thunderstorm coverage. This is due to better instability
expected in advance of moisture arriving in southerly flow aloft at
peak heating along with the potential for better forcing as the
remnants of Elida push northward offshore. We think the greatest
activity in terms of coverage will occur from the Siskiyous and
western slopes of the Cascades (FWZ 621, and eastern 622/617) east
across the Cascades (FWZ623), and then also east of the Cascades in
the typical arc (FWZs 624/625). Isolated storms are also possible
elsewhere across the area, including in northern California and
across the valleys west of the Cascades, though a surge of drier air
aloft does appear to be pushing into NorCal later in the
afternoon/evening (this should keep best activity confined to areas
north of the OR/CA border). Storms that do develop should be moving
at a pretty good clip - in the 20-30 mph range, so while they are
likely to be wetter storms with higher PWs, the faster storm motions
should still raise the risk of lightning-induced fire ignitions. We
have maintained the fire weather watch for this shift, but since
guidance hasn't changed much, there's a good chance this will be
upgraded later today.

Later this week (Thursday/Friday), eastward movement in the upper
level pattern is likely, which is likely to shift the region of
instability east of our area with drier SW flow aloft winning out.
As such, lightning risk will diminish to almost nil, but at the
expense of enhanced westerly winds during the afternoons and
evenings east of the Cascades, which could overlap with low
humidity. Any new fire starts would then have the ability to
spread/grow quickly. We'll continue to monitor this potential and
consider potential wind/low RH headlines.

The dry, diurnally breezy pattern looks to last this weekend and
into early next week. But, temperatures should also lower some
compared to earlier this week. -Spilde/BPN

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday
     evening for ORZ617-621>625.

CA...PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...None.

&&

MAS