A cold front brought plenty of wind and snow to the mountains of Southern Oregon. A Blizzard Warning was issued for Oregon zones ORZ027/028 at 07/1558 PST, effective from 07/2200 until 08/2200 PST.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 cold front brought plenty of wind and snow to the mountains of Southern Oregon. A Blizzard Warning was issued for Oregon zones ORZ027/028 at 07/1558 PST, effective from 07/2200 until 08/2200 PST. The warning was shortened until 08/1900 PST (ORZ027) and 08/1600 PST (ORZ028) at 08/1437 PST. The warning expired at 08/1900 PST (ORZ027) and 08/1600 PST (ORZ028). A Heavy Snow Warning was issued for Oregon zones ORZ024/025 above 1500 feet at 07/1558 PST, effective from 07/1558 until 08/0600 PST. The warning for ORZ024 was cancelled at 08/0423 PST. The warning for ORZ025 was extended to 08/1000 PST and raised to above 2500 feet at 08/0423 PST. The effective altitude was raised to 3000 feet at 08/0525 PST. It was extended again to 08/1600 PST at 08/1014 PST, and yet again to 08/1900 PST at 08/1437 PST. It finally expired at 08/1900 PST. In addition to the west side and mountain snows, heavy snow was reported at a few east side locations as well.
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 6, 3:20 PM PST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
320 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008
.DISCUSSION...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS LOCATED OFFSHORE AND WILL
MOVE MOVE INLAND LATE THIS EVENING. THE UPPER TROUGH AND A
SHORTWAVE WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE AREA WILL BRING SHOWERS
THROUGH THE AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. SHOWERS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE STRONGEST IN THE EVENING AS THE UPPER JET NOSES
INTO THE AREA AND THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS MOVES OVERHEAD. SHOWERS
WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH LATE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING. SNOW LEVELS
VARY OVER THE AREA BUT ARE AROUND 1000 TO 2000 FEET FOR MOST
LOCATIONS. HOWEVER...SNOW HAS BEEN OBSERVED DOWN TO THE BEACHES IN
THE BROOKINGS AREA THIS AFTERNOON IN HEAVIER SHOWERS. ACROSS THE
AREA EXPECT 1 TO 4 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION FOR LOCATIONS ABOVE 1000
FEET WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS OVER HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
ON MONDAY...EXPECT SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER
HIGHER TERRAIN. THEN THE NEXT SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO THE
ARE LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. THIS STORM SYSTEM IS
EXPECTED TO BRING A STRONG COLD FRONT INTO THE AREA WITH SOUTH
WINDS INCREASING OVER THE COAST...THE SHASTA VALLEY AND OVER THE
HIGHER TERRAIN. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS OUT FOR THE COAST AS WELL AS
FOR THE SHASTA VALLEY. LEANED TOWARDS THE GFS 12Z RUN FOR SNOW
LEVELS...KEEPING SNOW LEVELS LOW OVER INLAND VALLEYS THROUGH
TUESDAY MORNING BEFORE RISING TO AROUND 3000 FEET. THIS MAY ALLOW
FOR LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN INLAND VALLEYS LATE
MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING AND SNOW ADVISORIES MAY BE NEED
FOR WEST SIDE VALLEYS. ALSO THE NAM AND GFS ARE SHOWING
SIGNIFICANT QPF OVER THE AREA WITH STRONG AND MOIST SOUTHWEST TO
WEST 700 MB FLOW OVER THE AREA. MAY NEED SNOW ADVISORIES FOR THE
LOCATIONS OVER THE CASCADES AND EAST SIDE WITH THIS STORM.
EXTENDED FORECAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...
THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT DESPITE A
PROGRESSIVE PATTERN THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. THE WEATHER SYSTEMS IN
THE EXTENDED FORECAST ARE NOT AS COLD AS THE RECENT SYSTEMS BUT
LOWER ELEVATIONS MAY HAVE SNOW ON THE GROUND AND COLDER TEMPERATURES
THAN THE MODELS CAN CAPTURE SO SNOW LEVELS WILL BE DIFFICULT TO
PINPOINT. EXPECT A WARM AND THEN COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE ALONG WITH
BREEZY CONDITIONS AT THE COAST AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS WEDNESDAY NIGHT
FOLLOWED BY ONSHORE FLOW AND SHOWERS ON THURSDAY. THE BIG QUESTION
IS WHETHER SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND AN UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD THIS
WEEKEND. THE GFS SUGGESTS A FRONT WILL WEAKEN AS IT APPROACHES THE
COAST SATURDAY AS RIDGING BUILDS. IT HAS BEEN A VERY ACTIVE WEATHER
PATTERN AND WILL NOT GO DRY ALL WEEKEND...BUT WILL SHOW MUCH LOWER
CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION NEXT WEEKEND.
SANDLER
&&
AVIATION...WIDESPREAD SHOWERS THROUGH THIS EVENING AND INTO
TONIGHT BECOMING SCATTERED TO ISOLATED EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.
AREAS OF MVFR WITH VFR BECOMING MVFR WITH AREAS IFR IN HEAVIER
SNOW SHOWERS THIS EVENING THEN CLEARING TO VFR TOMORROW MORNING.
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
FOR ORZ021-ORZ022.
SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR ORZ021-ORZ022.
SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR ORZ023-ORZ024.
SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY FOR ORZ025-ORZ026.
CA...SNOW ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY FOR CAZ080-CAZ081-CAZ082.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON
FOR CAZ081.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS FROM 4 PM TO
10 PM PST MONDAY FOR PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST MONDAY FOR
PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING FROM 4 PM MONDAY TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY FOR
PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
GALE WARNING FROM 10 PM MONDAY TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY FOR PZZ350-
PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING
FOR PZZ350-PZZ356-PZZ370-PZZ376.
CC/RSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 ORZ021-022-072345- SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON COAST-CURRY COUNTY COAST- 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. SEE STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. CAZ081-072345- CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SEE STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. ORZ025-026-072345- EASTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOTHILLS-JACKSON COUNTY- 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. ORZ023-024-072345- CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY-EASTERN CURRY COUNTY AND JOSEPHINE COUNTY- 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST OREGON. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. CAZ080-082-072345- WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY-SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY- 336 PM PST SUN JAN 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SNOW ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM PST MONDAY. SEE WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
241 PM PST SUN JAN 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE BROOKINGS 42.07N 124.27W
01/06/2008 M0.0 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOWING. NO ACCUMULATION. 34 DEGREES. BIG SNOWFLAKES.
&&
SANDLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
424 PM PST SUN JAN 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0835 AM SNOW 6 ESE COOS BAY 43.33N 124.12W
01/06/2008 M1.0 INCH COOS OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.0 INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION AT 500 FT ELEVATION AND
SNOWING. BETWEEN FRIDAY 9 PM AND SATURDAY 9 PM RECEIVED A
TOTAL OF 1.36 INCHES OF RAIN.
0843 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 E SIXES 42.81N 124.42W
01/06/2008 M1.00 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
1.0 INCH OF RAIN BETWEEN 7 AM SATURDAY AND 7 AM SUNDAY.
THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING DURING THE PAST HOUR.
0848 AM HEAVY SNOW 20 N REEDSPORT 43.99N 124.11W
01/06/2008 M3.0 INCH LANE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
3.0 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND IN FLORENCE AND SNOWING
HARD.
0900 AM HEAVY SNOW 8 S ASHLAND 42.07N 122.70W
01/06/2008 M56.0 INCH JACKSON OR PUBLIC
MOUNT ASHLAND SKI AREA REPORTS A STORM TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATION OF 56 INCHES SINCE THURSDAY AT 6500 FEET.
0919 AM SNOW 3 E SIXES 42.81N 124.42W
01/06/2008 M1.0 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
RAIN CHANGED TO SNOW ONE HOUR AGO AND 1 INCH OF SNOW
OCCURRED. SNOWING LIGHTLY NOW.
1044 AM SNOW 4 SSW CAVE JUNCTION 42.12N 123.68W
01/06/2008 M2.0 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
2.0 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE 9 AM. STICKING TO DRIVEWAY AND
STILL SNOWING.
1115 AM HEAVY RAIN N LANGLOIS 42.93N 124.45W
01/06/2008 M0.48 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
0.48 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE PAST HOUR. PEA-SIZED HAIL
COVERING THE GROUND IN SPOTS. RAINING HEAVY.
0239 PM HEAVY SNOW 1 NE BROOKINGS 42.07N 124.27W
01/06/2008 M0.0 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOWING. NO ACCUMULATION. 34 DEGREES. BIG SNOWFLAKES.
&&
PETRUCELPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
500 PM PST SUN JAN 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM SNOW 5 NNW BROOKINGS 42.12N 124.32W
01/06/2008 E0.5 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOWING SINCE NOON, AND THE GRASS IS COVERED. 0.5 TO 1.0
INCHES.
&&
STOCKTONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
537 PM PST SUN JAN 06 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0239 PM HEAVY SLEET 2 N COOS BAY 43.40N 124.23W
01/06/2008 E0.00 INCH COOS OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SLEET MIXED WITH RAIN...AND ITS STICKING.
&&
STOCKTONThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow, 2 blizzard, 1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
A CoCoRahs observer 3SW Prospect reported 7.5 inches of snow between 06/1800 and 07/0730 PST. Another observer 7SW Prospect reported 6 inches of snow between 06/1800 and 07/0600 PST.
A CoCoRahs observer 3SW Prospect reported 6.2 inches of snow between 07/1800 and 08/0730 PST. An observer 2SW Prospect reported 8 inches of snow between 07/1600 and 08/0800 PST.
Based on reports from other nearby zones, it is assumed that Heavy Snow Warning criteria was met in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness area of ORZ024.
Toketee Falls reported 13 inches of snow during this interval.
A spotter at Bonanza reported 8-10 inches of snow between 07/1800 and 08/1415 PST. The cooperative observer at Chemult reported 14 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 08/0800 PST. A spotter 1W Crescent reported 6 inches of snow from 07/2100 until 08/0900 PST.
Based on numerous reports of heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and avalanches in adjacent zone ORZ027, it is assumed that heavy snow and blizzard conditions did occur in zone ORZ028 during this interval.
The COOP observer at Crater Lake National Park reported heavy snow and blowing snow with white out conditions, along with 13 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours.
An avalanche closed Highway 62 through Crater Lake National Park.
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: 69019, 69020, 68880, 119807, 67850, 119730, 67848, 67846.