Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 12 to 13, 2015

Name: Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 12 to 13, 2015
Start: 2015-12-12T08:00
End: 2015-12-13T22:00
Location: Oregon

December 12 to 13, 2015 · NWS MFR · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A series of systems brought heavy precipitation to southern Oregon. such as the southwest Oregon valley floors.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.

A series of systems brought heavy precipitation to southern Oregon. Initially the heavy snows were limited to higher altitudes...but a colder air mass moved in towards the end of the event and snow fell in areas that rarely see snow...such as the southwest Oregon valley floors. At one point after the storm, 25000 people were without power. Several highways around Crater Lake were closed for a week due to heavy snow and fallen trees blocking the roads.

What forecasters said that day

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 12, 4:36 AM PST, 3 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 12, 4:36 AM PST, 3 hours 24 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
436 AM PST SAT DEC 12 2015

.SHORT TERM...
**MAJOR STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY**

WE ARE NOW ON THE PRECIPICE OF A MAJOR STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL
IMPACT SOUTHWEST OREGON AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY THROUGH
SUNDAY. THIS STORM WILL BRING THE FULL GAMUT OF WEATHER HAZARDS
TO THE REGION WITH STRONG WINDS, HEAVY RAIN AND HEAVY SNOW WITH
THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING WEST OF THE CASCADES AND PERHAPS EVEN
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

A STRONG SUB-980 MB LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE TO NEAR THE
NORTHERN TIP OF VANCOUVER ISLAND BY THIS EVENING. THIS WILL ALLOW
A WARM FRONT OFFSHORE TO REACH THE COAST LATER THIS MORNING, THEN
MOVE ONSHORE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE
COAST AND WEST SIDE THIS MORNING WITH SNOW LEVELS VARYING FROM
3000-4000 FEET. SNOW WILL BEGIN OVER THE MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING
AND SPREAD TO THE EAST SIDE THIS AFTERNOON. WINTER STORM
WARNINGS/ADVISORIES ARE UP FOR MANY AREAS, SO PLEASE REFER TO
WSWMFR FOR THE SPECIFIC DETAILS.

MODELS HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT IN THEIR DEPICTIONS OF HOW
THIS SYSTEM WILL EVOLVE. THE NAM12 APPEARS TO REMAIN AN OUTLIER
TIMING THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE ABOUT 6 HOURS SLOWER THAN THE
OTHER MODELS SUNDAY MORNING. WE HAVE LEANED MORE ON THE OTHER
GUIDANCE, INCLUDING THE HI-RES SOLUTIONS, WHICH ARE FASTER
BRINGING THE COLD FRONT ONSHORE.

AFTER THE WARM FRONT MOVES THROUGH THIS EVENING, SNOW LEVELS WILL
SURGE TO AROUND 6000-7000 FEET OVERNIGHT...ALLOWING SNOW TO
BRIEFLY CHANGE TO RAIN...EXCEPT AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS.
MEANWHILE, AN UPPER TROUGH OFFSHORE WILL DIG AND ENERGIZE A COLD
FRONT THAT WILL MOVE ONSHORE BY SUNDAY MORNING. THIS FRONT WILL
HAVE A GOOD SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE FEED...AND WILL RESULT IN A
PERIOD OF INTENSE RAINFALL ALONG THE COAST AND INLAND...BUT
ESPECIALLY IN THE CURRY COAST RANGE WHERE OROGRAPHIC LIFT WILL
ENHANCE RAIN RATES. RAIN RATES EXCEEDING 0.50"/HR ARE LIKELY IN
MANY AREAS AND NUMEROUS FLOOD PRODUCTS ARE OUT AT FFAMFR. GUIDANCE
INDICATES THIS WILL BE A TOP 5 PERCENT 2-DAY RAIN EVENT FOR THE
AREA. THERE IS ALSO A FLASH FLOOD THREAT FOR BURN SCAR AREAS IN
PORTIONS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY WHERE THE STOUTS CREEK WILDFIRE
OCCURRED AS WELL AS IN WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY WHERE THE HAPPY
CAMP AND JULY WILDFIRES OCCURRED. THE COLD FRONT WILL THEN MOVE
INLAND SUNDAY AND SNOW LEVELS WILL PLUNGE BACK DOWN TO BELOW MAJOR
PASSES. VERY STRONG WINDS ALOFT AT 700 MB WILL PRECEDE AND
ACCOMPANY THE FRONT...PEAKING AT AROUND 70-80 KT AROUND 12Z
SUNDAY. THE RDD-MFR PRESSURE GRADIENT PEAKS AT ABOUT 8-10 MB AND
THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A PERIOD OF VERY STRONG WINDS IN THE SHASTA
VALLEY. EAST SIDE AREAS NEAR SUMMER LAKE WILL ALSO SEE VERY STRONG
WINDS. HIGH WIND WATCHES ARE OUT AND ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE
ADDED LATER TODAY. WITH ALL THE WIND COMBINED WITH THE SNOW,
EXPECT NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS UP AROUND CRATER LAKE NATIONAL
PARK AND ALSO MT ASHLAND. A BLIZZARD WATCH IS UP FOR THOSE AREAS.
AFTER THE FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING, COLD AIR ALOFT WILL MOVE IN KEEPING POST-FRONTAL SHOWERS
GOING. THIS WILL ALSO RENEW A LIGHTNING/SMALL HAIL THREAT OVER THE
COASTAL WATERS AND ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. SNOW LEVELS WILL
DROP DOWN TO 1500-2000 FEET BY MONDAY MORNING AND WITH LEFTOVER
SHOWERS IN THE AREA, EXPECT THERE WILL BE SOME SNOW ON THE HILLS
SURROUNDING MEDFORD. SPILDE

.LONG TERM...NO CHANGES FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S AFD...MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...THE LONG TERM OPENS WITH THE DEPARTING
TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES, WITH LARGE AMPLITUDE RIDGING OVER THE
EASTERN PACIFIC. THIS PLACES THE FORECAST AREA UNDER SWIFT
NORTHERLY FLOW, ON THE COLD SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN AIR
MASSES. MODELS HAVE SHOWN A FEW SHORTWAVES EMBEDDED WITHIN THIS
FLOW ON MONDAY, WHICH WOULD LIKELY KEEP SHOWERS ACTIVE IN THE AREA
THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. WITH SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO ABOUT 1500 FEET,
ALL BUT THE COAST AND THE WEST SIDE VALLEY FLOORS HAVE A DECENT
CHANCE OF PICKING UP SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. EVEN THE ROGUE
VALLEY NEAR MEDFORD HAS A SMALL CHANCE, BUT CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW
TO ADD TO THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME.

BEYOND MONDAY, MODEL FORECASTS DIVERGE, BUT SOME GENERAL TRENDS ARE
EVIDENT. THE RIDGE JUST OFFSHORE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL COME
UNDER  PRESSURE FROM SEVERAL WAVES EMANATING FROM A LARGE BERING
STRAIGHT TROUGH. THE MODELS HAVE BACKED OFF ON ONE SUCH FEATURE,
NOW KEEPING IT WELL NORTH OF OUR AREA, BUT THIS ACTIVITY WILL
WEAKEN THE RIDGE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE LARGER TROUGH
EXPECTED LATER IN THE WEEK. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE RIDGING, ONSHORE
FLOW OF MOIST AIR WILL CONTINUE, SO HAVE KEPT SOME AREAS OF SHOWERS
IN THE FORECAST, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE COAST AND INTO THE UMPQUA
BASIN AND HIGH CASCADES.

BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF, IN SURPRISING AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME RANGE,
SHOVE THE BERING TROUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST TOWARDS THE WEST COAST
THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF BEING A
WET AND WINDY STORM, BUT AT THIS TIME RANGE, THE MODELS ARE NOT
RESOLVING THE DETAILS, AND DIFFER A BIT IN TIMING. THEREFORE,
CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW, BUT STILL SOMEWHAT BETTER THAN NORMAL FOR A
FEATURE 7 TO 8 DAYS OUT. HAVE INCREASED WINDS AND THE CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION, BUT WILL WAIT UNTIL CONFIDENCE INCREASES BEFORE
STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEM AS MUCH AS THE SYNOPTIC MODELS WOULD
SUGGEST. OVERALL, IT DOES APPEAR THE THE WET PATTERN WILL CONTINUE,
ALTHOUGH TONED DOWN QUITE A BIT FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEKS. -BPN

&&

.AVIATION...FOR THE 12/12Z TAF CYCLE...SHOWERS WILL DIMINISH IN
COVERAGE AND INTENSITY FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT. MVFR CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO SATURDAY MORNING WITH ISOLATED IFR
CONDITIONS DEVELOPING NEAR SUNRISE AND LINGERING INTO MID MORNING.
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE WEST SIDE TO THE
CASCADES DURING THE AFTERNOON AND ACROSS THE AREA BY THIS EVENING.
THIS WILL PRODUCE MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS WITH A MIX OF IFR AND MVFR
CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY ALONG THE COAST, EXPECT LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR DURING THE AFTERNOON AS A FRONT PUSHES INLAND. /CC

&&

.MARINE...UPDATED 345 AM PST SATURDAY 12 DEC 2015....LARGE WEST
SWELL WILL GRADUALLY LOWER TODAY. HOWEVER ANY IMPROVEMENT THIS
MORNING WILL BE BRIEF SINCE A STRONG WARM FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE
AREA AND GALES WILL DEVELOP OVER MOST THE WATERS DURING THE LATE
MORNING AND AFTERNOON. GALES MAY LINGER INTO THE EARLY EVENING.
BEHIND THIS FRONT, THEN WINDS WILL LOWER AND BECOME NORTHWESTERLY.
MEANWHILE, SEAS WILL BUILD AND MAY REMAIN VERY STEEP  TONIGHT DUE TO
INCREASING WEST SWELL. IN THE SOUTHERN WATERS, ANOTHER ROUND OF
GALES IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT WITH A COLD FRONT PASSAGE. HOWEVER, MODELS
HAVE TRENDED FURTHER SOUTH WITH THESE STRONG WINDS AND THE COASTAL
SOUTHERN OREGON WATERS MAY JUST SEE SMALL CRAFT WINDS.

GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP ON SUNDAY AND PERSIST INTO
MONDAY. CONTINUED VERY STEEP SEAS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AND MONDAY
WITH SEAS DOMINATED BY WEST SWELL. SEAS WILL GRADUALLY LOWER TUESDAY
BUT MAY REMAINS STEEP. ANOTHER FRONT ARRIVES LATE WEDNESDAY INTO
THURSDAY. /CC

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM PST
     THIS EVENING FOR ORZ029>031.
     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR ORZ029>031.
     HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR
     ORZ031.
     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST SUNDAY
     FOR ORZ025-027-028.
     BLIZZARD WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR
     ORZ027-028.
     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR ORZ024.
     HIGH WIND WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR
     ORZ022.
     FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON FOR ORZ021-022.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR
     ORZ023.
     FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR
     ORZ026.

CA...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON
     ABOVE 4000 FEET FOR FOR CAZ080.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
     AFTERNOON ABOVE 4500 FEET FOR FOR CAZ080.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM PST THIS
     AFTERNOON FOR CAZ082.
     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR CAZ082.
     FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR
     CAZ080.
     HIGH WIND WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR
     CAZ081.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM PST
     THIS EVENING FOR CAZ083.
     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR CAZ083.
     HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     CAZ085.
     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON
     FOR CAZ085.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...GALE WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
     MORNING FOR PZZ356-376.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS
     EVENING FOR PZZ356-370-376.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
     FOR PZZ350-356-370-376.
     GALE WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR
     PZZ350-356-370-376.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 7 AM PST THIS MORNING FOR
     PZZ350-356-376.
     HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR PZZ370.

MAS/CC/DW

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, South Central Oregon Cascades

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 9:00 PM PST
Where: South Central Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.801, -122.519 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Crater Lake National Park reported 29.6 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0800 PST. A spotter at Diamond Lake reported 31 inches of snow in 24 hours. Power was out and area roads were closed due to snow and fallen trees. A location 1WNW Crater Lake reported 14.4 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST.

Heavy Snow, Klamath Basin

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 9:00 PM PST
Where: Klamath Basin forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.686, -121.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Chiloquin reported 8.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending around 13/0800 PST. A spotter 1NE Altamont reported 5.8 inches of snow and a spotter 2N Klamath Falls reported 8.0 inches of snow. The Chemult alternate station reported 10.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST. A location 7N Bonanza reported 10.5 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0850 PST.

Heavy Snow, Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 10:00 PM PST
Where: Siskiyou Mountains & Southern Oregon Cascades forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 42.495, -122.645 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Greensprings Power Plant reported 8.5 inches of snow on the morning of 12/14. Not far away on the previous day, the Greensprings ODOT reporting station reported 30 inches of new snow. Howard Prairie Dam reported 13.0 inches of snow on the morning of the 12/13. Fish Lake reported 9.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST. The SNOTEL at Billie Creek Divide recorded 19.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST.

Heavy Snow, Jackson County

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 9:00 PM PST
Where: Jackson County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.432, -122.728 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter 3NE Applegate reported 8 inches of snow at 2000 feet at 13/0640 PST. A spotter 3N Phoenix reported 3 inches of snow at 13/0700 PST. An NWS employee 3N Phoenix reported 4 inches of snow overnight at 13/0700 PST. An NWS employee 3E Medford at just over 2000 feet reported 4.5 inches of snow overnight at 13/0730 PST. An NWS employee 3E Medford at 2000 feet reported 6.75 inches of snow overnight on the grass with 5.5 inches on the road at 13/0830 PST. A spotter 2ESE Ashland reported 9 inches of snow overnight with amounts varying form 7 to 10 inches and drifts 12 to 25 inches at 13/0951 PST. An NWS employee 2ESE Ashland reported 7 inches of snow at 13/1000 PST. A spotter 1SSE Ashland reported 10 inches of snow since 13/0500 PST at 13/1057 PST. A spotter 4.5NNW Butte Falls reported 4.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0700 PST. A spotter 2.8E Medford reported 4.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0730 PST. A spotter 1.4ESE Ashland reported 9.5 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST. A spotter 0.7SSE Ashland reported 8.3 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0700 PST. Numerous power outages were reported around the county.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Curry County & Josephine County

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 10:00 PM PST
Where: Eastern Curry County & Josephine County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.417, -123.886 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The cooperative observer Williams 1NW reported 3.0 inches of snow in 24 hours on the morning of 12/13. A spotter in Murphy reported 4.0 inches of snow at 13/0646 PST. A spotter 4N Grants Pass reported 3.2 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0700 PST. A spotter 1W Williams reported 3.0 inches of snow at 13/0700 PST. A spotter 1SSE Murphy reported 2.5 inches of snow at 13/0730 PST. A spotter 4SSW Sunny Valley reported 4.1 inches of snow at 13/0815 PST. A spotter 6E Gold Beach reported 5.5 inches of snow at just under 3000 feet at 13/1030 PST. A spotter 1N Wolf Creek reported 7.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/1000 PST. A spotter 6.1SSE Grants Pass reported 4.5 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0830 PST. Numerous power outages were reported in Josephine County.

Heavy Snow, Central Douglas County

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 10:00 PM PST
Where: Central Douglas County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.235, -123.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law Enforcement in Azalea reported heavy snow bringing down trees across southern Douglas County at 13/0859 PST. A member of the public 1SW Myrtle Creek reported 5.5 inches of snow between 13/0000 PST and 13/1000 PST. The cooperative observer at Riddle reported 2.0 inches of snow by early evening on 01/13. A spotter 1.1SE Glide reported 5.0 inches of snow in 24 hours ending at 13/0800 PST. Numerous power outages were reported around the county along with some road closures.

Heavy Snow, South Central Oregon Coast

When: December 12, 8:00 AM PST to December 13, 10:00 PM PST
Where: South Central Oregon Coast forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 42.979, -123.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A spotter 2S Bandon reported 3.3 inches of snow in 6 hours ending at 13/1058 PST. Highway 42 near Bandon was closed due to a landslide. It will likely take months to repair it.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oregon in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Oregon, December 2015

Sources

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: 609480, 609481, 609482, 609485, 609486, 609489, 609490.