Another winter storm hit Southern Oregon and Northern California during this interval. All reported snow amounts were below warning criteria except for one, listed below.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.
Another winter storm hit Southern Oregon and Northern California during this interval. All reported snow amounts were below warning criteria except for one, listed below.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Dec 24, 2:00 PM PST, 1 hour earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
200 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008
.SHORT TERM...A COLD FRONT TRAILS OFFSHORE FROM THE NORTH OREGON
COAST THIS AFTERNOON. THE FRONT WILL GRADUALLY MOVE SOUTH ACROSS
SOUTHWEST OREGON THIS EVENING...THEN INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND
SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON LATE TONIGHT. THE LATEST IR SATELLITE LOOP
SHOWS COOLING TOPS OVER NW OREGON WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN A FAVORABLE
LOCATION OF UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE. PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP OVER
SOUTHWEST OREGON BY THIS EVENING JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT...THEN
GRADUALLY SPREAD SOUTH AND EAST OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS WILL BEGIN TO
DECREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER TROUGH SHIFTS EASTWARD.
ON FRIDAY A WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH THE COAST THEN MOVE INLAND
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING. SNOW LEVELS WILL BEGIN TO RISE
FRIDAY NIGHT WEST OF THE CASCADES THEN ABOVE PASS LEVEL BY SATURDAY.
NO SURPRISE THAT THE MODELS ARE FORECASTING THIS NEXT SYSTEM TO BE
ON THE JUICY SIDE CONCERNING PRECIPITATION SINCE IT WILL BE AIDED BY
A FAIRLY STRONG WESTERLY JET. MAY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE RIVERS
IF THE BAROCLINIC ZONE GETS HUNG UP ON SATURDAY.
.LONG TERM...THE LONGER RANGE GFS...GFS ENSEMBLE AND EUROPEAN ARE IN
FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT IN DEPICTING A STRONG EAST-WEST JET AIMING
INTO THE NORTHWEST WITH A COLD FRONT DIRECTING MORE RAIN AND
MOUNTAIN SNOW INTO OUR REGION SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS PATTERN WILL
CHANGE ONLY SLIGHTLY THROUGH SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH THE FRONT TRYING
TO SAG SOUTHWARD WHILE THE STRONG WESTERLY JET CONTINUES TO DRIVE IN
A MOIST UNSETTLED ONSHORE FLOW. SNOW LEVELS SHOULD REMAIN NEAR OR
SLIGHTLY ABOVE MOUNTAIN PASS LEVELS AND WELL ABOVE VALLEY FLOORS
DURING THIS TIME. SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL TOTALS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY
THROUGH MONDAY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN OREGON COAST REGION. TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY...ACTIVE ONSHORE FLOW SHOULD CONTINUE INTO THE NORTHWEST.
&&
.AVIATION...EXPECT WIDESPREAD MVFR CONDITIONS WITH AREAS OF IFR AT
TIMES OVERNIGHT AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. CONDITIONS
IMPROVING THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST
THURSDAY FOR ORZ021-ORZ022-ORZ023-ORZ026-ORZ027-ORZ028-
ORZ029-ORZ030.
HIGH SURF WARNING FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST FRIDAY FOR
ORZ021-ORZ022.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST
THURSDAY FOR ORZ024-ORZ025.
CA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST
THURSDAY FOR CAZ080-CAZ081.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS FROM 4 PM
THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 PM PST THURSDAY FOR PZZ356-PZZ376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
FRIDAY FOR PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS FROM 4 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR PZZ356-PZZ376.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 4 AM PST FRIDAY FOR PZZ350-
PZZ370.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS
EVENING FOR PZZ350-PZZ370.
RH/MS/MOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 CAZ080-251500- WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ024-025-251500- EASTERN CURRY COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY- EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 1000 FEET UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ081-251500- CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ023-026-251500- CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY-JACKSON COUNTY- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 1000 FEET UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ027-028-251500- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES- SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ029-030-251500- KLAMATH BASIN- NORTHERN AND EASTERN KLAMATH COUNTY AND WESTERN LAKE COUNTY- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ORZ021-022-251500- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST-CURRY COUNTY COAST- 151 PM PST WED DEC 24 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET WILL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 6 PM PST THIS EVENING. SEE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY. A HIGH SURF WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM PST THURSDAY TO 4 AM PST FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. SUGDEN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1105 AM PST WED DEC 24 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0810 AM SNOW 11 SSE SPRAGUE RIVER 42.30N 121.41W
12/24/2008 M3.0 INCH KLAMATH OR TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW OVERNIGHT, 14 INCH TOTAL SNOW DEPTH.
0810 AM SNOW N BONANZA 42.20N 121.40W
12/24/2008 M2.0 INCH KLAMATH OR TRAINED SPOTTER
0.26 OF LIQUID, CURRENTLY 24F WITH LIGHT SNOW AND 2 MI
VISIBILITY.
0810 AM SNOW 1 WSW WILLIAMS 42.21N 123.29W
12/24/2008 M1.5 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
ELEVATION 1650 FT.
0810 AM SNOW 4 N EAGLE POINT 42.53N 122.80W
12/24/2008 M1.0 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
0810 AM SNOW 4 SSW CAVE JUNCTION 42.12N 123.68W
12/24/2008 M3.0 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES OF OVERNIGHT ACCUMULATION, ELEVATION 1400 FEET.
&&
OUTLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
1142 AM PST WED DEC 24 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 AM SNOW 2 NNE SELMA 42.30N 123.59W
12/24/2008 M2.0 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE MIDNIGHT
&&
SUGDENThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Based on rain reports in ORZ024 and snowfall reports in nearby zone ORZ025, it is assumed that Heavy Snow Warning criteria was met in ORZ024 above 1000 feet.
The Toketee Falls SNOTEL reported nearly 7 inches of snow during this interval and nearby Steamboat Ranger Station recorded 1.10 inches of liquid equivalent in 17 hours ending at 25/1445 PST. Based on this information, it is assumed that Heavy Snow Warning criteria was met in this zone.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 2008
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 156161, 156166.