A localized Heavy Snow Event occurred on January 5-6, with the Applegate and Illinois Valleys bearing the brunt of the snow. A Heavy Snow Warning (upgraded from a Snow Advisory) was issued for Oregon zone ORZ024 above 1500 feet at 05/1012 PST, effective from 05/1012 until 06/0600 PST.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
A localized Heavy Snow Event occurred on January 5-6, with the Applegate and Illinois Valleys bearing the brunt of the snow. A Heavy Snow Warning (upgraded from a Snow Advisory) was issued for Oregon zone ORZ024 above 1500 feet at 05/1012 PST, effective from 05/1012 until 06/0600 PST. It was downgraded to a Snow Advisory at 05/2112 PST.
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 Jan 5, 2:13 PM PST, 4 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
213 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008
.DISCUSSION...COLD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER OUR REGION WITH
NUMEROUS SHOWERS MOVING ONSHORE AND ACROSS OUR AREA. GENERAL
SHOWERY CONDITIONS WITH LOWERING SNOW LEVELS TO CONTINUE THROUGH
SUNDAY NIGHT...THOUGH DECREASING QPF SUNDAY. 2 SOMEWHAT
SIGNIFICANT SHORTWAVES MOVING THROUGH THE TROUGH. ONE TONIGHT IS
VISIBLE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY APPROACHING THE COAST. THINK THAT
THIS WILL CONTINUE THE SHOWERS THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH SIGNIFICANT
ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 1500 FEET ACROSS SISKIYOU COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE
COUNTY. THUS WILL CONTINUE THE HEAVY SNOW WARNINGS THERE UNTIL 6
AM SUNDAY. GOOD ACCUMULATIONS WILL OCCUR OVER THE CASCADES BUT
AMOUNTS WILL BE IN THE ADVISORY CATEGORY. ELSEWHERE ACROSS WESTERN
VALLEYS LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH
SUNDAY NIGHT ABOVE THE 1000 TO 1500 FOOT LEVEL. MOST LIKELY
PERIODS WILL BE WITH TONIGHTS SHORTWAVE AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT AS
THE MAIN TROUGH MOVES ACROSS OUR AREA.
MONDAY A TRANSITORY RIDGE WILL MOVE ARE THE REGION. OVERRUNNING
PRECIPITATION FROM THE NEXT STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP
ALONG THE COAST LATER MONDAY WITH THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION
FALLING AFTER DARK THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. COLD AIR WILL
ORIGINALLY BE TRAPPED IN WESTERN VALLEYS AND MAY ALLOW SNOW LEVELS
TO START OFF NEAR THE 1500 FOOT LEVEL AND NOT RISE ABOVE SOME
VALLEY FLOORS UNTIL EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. VERY STRONG SURFACE
GRADIENT PREDICTED WITH THIS SYSTEM SO MAY NEED HIGH WIND WARNINGS
FOR THE COAST AND SHASTA VALLEY MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING.
EASTSIDE LOCATIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH OCCASIONAL SNOW WITH THIS SYSTEM
AND BLUSTERY CONDITIONS.
SHOWERY AND COOL WEATHER BEHIND THE TUESDAY SYSTEMS COLD FRONT TO
EXTEND INTO WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH SNOW LEVEL DEFINITELY
BELOW PASS LEVELS AND MAYBE NEAR VALLEY FLOORS AT TIMES. FINALLY
LOOKING LIKE A BREAK IN THE PARADE OF STORMS FRIDAY...BUT NOT FOR
LONG AS MODELS INDICATE ANOTHER STORM MOVING IN SATURDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...MVFR CIGS/VSBY WESTSIDE IN SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED IFR
CONDITIONS. EASTSIDE...VFR CONDITIONS EXCEPT OCCASIONAL IFR
CIG/VSBY IN SNOW SHOWERS. MOUNTAINS OBSCURED ALL AREAS.
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR ORZ021-ORZ022.
HEAVY SNOW WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST SUNDAY FOR ORZ024.
SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY FOR ORZ023-ORZ025-ORZ026.
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST SUNDAY FOR ORZ027-
ORZ028.
CA...HEAVY SNOW WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST SUNDAY FOR CAZ080-CAZ082-
CAZ083.
SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY FOR CAZ081.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY FOR PZZ350-PZZ356-
PZZ370-PZZ376.
DDG/RS/JSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 319 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008 ORZ021-022-062330- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST-CURRY COUNTY COAST- 319 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY. SEE COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. CAZ080-082-083-062330- WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY-SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST SISKIYOU COUNTY- 319 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST SUNDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. ORZ027-028-062330- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES- SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES- 319 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST SUNDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. CAZ081-ORZ023-025-026-062330- CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY-CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY- EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS-JACKSON COUNTY- 319 PM PST SAT JAN 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT ABOVE 1500 FEET. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY ABOVE 1500 FEET. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. PETRUCELLI
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
232 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1206 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 SE CAVE JUNCTION 42.11N 123.58W
01/05/2008 M1.56 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.56 INCHES IN 24 HOURS AS OF 1430 PST. 1 INCH OF SNOW
TOO.
&&
STOCKTONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
239 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0236 PM SNOW 5 WSW WILDERVILLE 42.36N 123.56W
01/05/2008 M0.2 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE 730 AM RECEIVED 0.75 INCHES OF RAIN AND 0.25 INCHES
OF SNOW. RAIN AND SNOW MIX OCCURRING NOW.
&&
SANDLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
240 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM HEAVY SNOW N FORT JONES 41.61N 122.84W
01/05/2008 M6.0 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
6.0 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE FRIDAY EVENING.
&&
SANDLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
336 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1206 PM HEAVY RAIN 9 E ROSEBURG 43.21N 123.18W
01/05/2008 M1.12 INCH DOUGLAS OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.12 INCHES RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
&&
STOCKTONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
339 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0338 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 SW WEED 41.37N 122.42W
01/05/2008 M6.0 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
6.0 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM.
&&
SANDLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
458 PM PST SAT JAN 05 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1206 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 SE CAVE JUNCTION 42.11N 123.58W
01/05/2008 M1.56 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.56 INCHES IN 24 HOURS AS OF 1430 PST. 1 INCH OF SNOW
TOO.
1206 PM HEAVY RAIN 9 E ROSEBURG 43.21N 123.18W
01/05/2008 M1.12 INCH DOUGLAS OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.12 INCHES RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
1209 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 WNW MEDFORD 42.37N 122.95W
01/05/2008 M2.40 INCH JACKSON OR TRAINED SPOTTER
2.40 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST 24 HOURS
0130 PM HEAVY SNOW HOWARD PRAIRIE 42.20N 122.38W
01/05/2008 M24.0 INCH JACKSON OR PUBLIC
A STORM TOTAL OF 24 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE THURSDAY.
0131 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 SSW CAVE JUNCTION 42.12N 123.68W
01/05/2008 M0.0 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITY TO 100 YARDS. SNOW
BEGINNING TO STICK TO THE PAVEMENT.
0200 PM HEAVY SNOW MOUNT SHASTA 41.32N 122.32W
01/05/2008 M54.0 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
THE MOUNT SHASTA SKI PARK AT 5500 FEET RECEIVED 54 INCHES
OF SNOW SINCE THURSDAY.
0219 PM HAIL 1 NNW PORT ORFORD 42.77N 124.50W
01/05/2008 E0.25 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SMALLER THAN PEA SIZED HAIL COVERING THE GROUND IN
PLACES.
0236 PM SNOW 5 WSW WILDERVILLE 42.36N 123.56W
01/05/2008 M0.2 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE 730 AM RECEIVED 0.75 INCHES OF RAIN AND 0.25 INCHES
OF SNOW. RAIN AND SNOW MIX OCCURRING NOW.
0239 PM HEAVY SNOW N FORT JONES 41.61N 122.84W
01/05/2008 M6.0 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
6.0 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE FRIDAY EVENING.
0338 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 SW WEED 41.37N 122.42W
01/05/2008 M6.0 INCH SISKIYOU CA TRAINED SPOTTER
6.0 INCHES OF SNOW BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM.
&&
PETRUCELThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Eight inches of snow was reported at Toketee Falls during this interval.
A spotter 3N Merlin at 1550 feet reported 7 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 07/0700 PST. A spotter 2NNE Selma reported 8 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 07/0800 PST.
The cooperative observer at Crater Lake National Park reported 18 inches of snow during this interval.
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, January 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: 68878, 67825, 71072.