Heavy rain brought some areal flooding to parts of southwest Oregon.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Heavy rain brought some areal flooding to parts of southwest Oregon.
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 14, 4:37 AM PST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
437 AM PST Wed Dec 14 2016
.SHORT TERM...A strong frontal system will bring significant
weather impacts today into tonight. A warm front is moving into
the area this morning and is associated with strong moisture.
This front will bring areas of moderate to heavy rain to western
areas and heavy snow to the Cascades and areas to the east of the
Cascades. Snow levels will gradually rise this morning into this
afternoon as the warm front lifts north over the area. Next, a
surface low moves into the Curry Coast this afternoon and inland
this evening and tonight with a cold front moving across the area.
Heavy rain is expected along the coast and into Josephine and
Siskiyou counties ahead of and with this front. High winds are
also forecast to develop ahead of the front today into this
evening over the mountains, in the Shasta Valley and east of the
Cascades.
Overnight, precipitation has been light to moderate and snow
levels have remained relatively low around 2000 to 4000 feet
elevation. Snow has occurred locally down to 1500 feet though west
of the Cascades, mainly in the Applegate Valley near Jacksonville
and Ruch. Observations indicate the warm layer has moved into
Curry, Josephine and western Siskiyou county in the last couple
hours. So expect, snow to change over to rain in the Applegate
valley early this morning. Areas of wet snow may also fall down to
the Sexton Summit pass area early this morning and in portions of
northern Douglas county such as Rice hill in the early to mid
morning before changing over to rain. Given the temperature and
dew point profiles, freezing rain is not expected in the CWA but
is forecast to occur just north of the Douglas border this morning
and north of the Klamath and Lake border late this afternoon and
this evening.
As the warm front moves inland this morning expect precipitation
to become moderate to locally heavy across Southern Oregon and
in Siskiyou county. The current radar shows an area of heavy
precipitation extending into western Siskiyou, southern Curry,
southern Josephine and southwest Jackson counties. This area of
moderate to heavy precipitation will spread inland this morning
then gradually lift north in the afternoon. As it does so, expect
snow levels to rise 6000 to 7500 feet, initially west of the
Cascades and over Northern California this morning, then east of
the Cascades across southern Oregon this afternoon. Models are in
good agreement and continue to support moderate to heavy snowfall
this morning into this afternoon in the Cascades and over the east
side in Oregon as well as in the higher elevations near Mount
Shasta. A winter storm warning is in effect for these areas. See
the WSWMFR for details. Most areas from the Cascades east in
Southern Oregon will see snow change over to rain by the early to
mid afternoon. However, snow may continue to fall down to valley
floors in the Chemult and Fort Rock areas until late this
afternoon then change over to rain. Some inland areas may also see
a brief decrease in precipitation late this afternoon and early
this evening, mainly in southeast portions of the CWA. However
heavy to moderate rain will impact the coast, Douglas county,
Josephine county and portions of Siskiyou county today through
this evening as a surface low approaches and moves into Southwest
Oregon. A cold front associated with this low will move across the
area tonight into Thursday bringing moderate to heavy additional
precipitation to the area.
Ahead of the cold front, expect strong gusty winds to develop over
the higher mountains, in the Shasta Valley and east of the
Cascades. 700 mb winds are forecast to reach 70 to 80 mph which
will support strong winds east of the Cascades down to some valley
floors. Strongest winds are expected over the mountains and in the
Summer lake area, where winds may gust to 80 mph this afternoon
into this evening. Of note, the combination of strong winds with
snow changing over to rain in the afternoon may bring a dangerous
combination to area roads on the east side. In the Shasta valley,
strong winds with gusts to 60 mph are expected to develop late
this morning through early this evening.
The heavy rain along the coast and into Josephine and Siskiyou
counties will be a concern with this system. Models and satellite
observations continue to support heavy rain totals of around 2 to
5 inches in these areas today through tonight. The heavy rain
will bring rising streamflows and the potential for flooding,
especially on small streams and in urban areas prone to flooding.
Also periods of intense rain rates will bring the potential for
landslides or debris flows, particularly in the area of the Gap
burn scar in western Siskiyou county today into tonight. A flash
flood watch remains in effect for the Gap burn scar area with a
flood watch over Curry and portions of Josephine and Siskiyou
counties. See the FFAMFR for details.
Precipitation will decrease significantly behind the cold front
passage along the coast tonight and over areas west of the
Cascades in southern Oregon Thursday morning. However, as the
front lingers in southeast portions of the CWA, much of Northern
California and areas in southern Klamath and southern Lake
counties will continue to see precipitation through the day
Thursday and possibly through Thursday night in the Modoc and
southern Lake county areas.
Thursday night and Friday, a cold upper trough moves south,
centered off the Oregon coast. This may bring showers to portions
of the area. However, expect the main impact to be a change to
much colder temperatures on Friday. Low temperatures Friday night
may be in the single digits to negatives for areas east of the
Cascades and in the 20s for inland west side valleys. This cold
but relatively dry air mass will linger into Saturday then
moderate slightly but remain cold on Sunday.
&&
.AVIATION...14/12Z TAF CYCLE...IFR and local LIFR conditions are
expected to be the predominate condition through at least early this
afternoon for most inland locations. Currently North Bend has VFR
conditions with the TAF showing CIGS lowering to borderline MVFR
around 16z, but this could occur earlier and CIGS will continue to
lower there late this morning into the afternoon. Freezing levels
will rise quickly from south to north, reaching 5000 to 6000 feet by
18z. The Rogue Valley will likely see an improvement in conditions
this afternoon as downsloping winds at least partially clear the
area around KMFR. Also there's a chance for winds to briefly switch
to the south briefly in Roseburg, but confidence is not high enough
to put it into the TAF. On the east side, snow will result in
decreased flight conditions, at least until precipitation changes
over to rain late in the morning. There is also a chance for CIGS to
improve to VFR as the warm front lifts north, but winds will become
gusty, with low level wind shear and mountain turbulence likely to
be widespread concerns. -Petrucelli
&&
.MARINE...Updated 200 AM PST Wednesday 14 December 2016...The models
are in good agreement with the track of the surface low which is
expected to move inland near Gold Beach. This will result in a brief
shot of increasing south winds from around Brookings south around
mid afternoon. However were only expecting small craft conditions.
Meanwhile the wind waves will encounter the swell and seas could get
choppy over the outer waters and portions of the inner waters. The
small craft advisory for for hazardous seas continues to address
this issue. The south winds should be brief and winds are expected
to quickly shift to the north as the surface low moves inland later
this afternoon, but they will remain below small craft. The fresh
south swell generated by the south winds ahead of the upper low are
expected to migrate northward through the northern waters this
evening and continue through Thursday. North winds will increase
some with borderline small craft possible in the southern outer
waters late Thursday afternoon and evening. Calmer conditions are
expected Friday into next weekend. -Petrucelli
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this
evening for ORZ030-031.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning for
ORZ029>031.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon for
ORZ029>031.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for ORZ030-031.
Flood Watch through this evening for ORZ021-022-024-028.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning for
ORZ027-028.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon ABOVE 5000
FEET for for ORZ027-028.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for ORZ029.
CA...High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this
evening for CAZ085.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for CAZ085.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST this evening
for CAZ084.
Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for CAZ080>083.
Flash Flood Watch through this evening for CAZ080.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM PST early this morning ABOVE
4000 FEET for for CAZ082-083.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST this morning ABOVE 5000
FEET for for CAZ082-083.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM PST early this morning ABOVE
4500 FEET for for CAZ080.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM PST this
evening for CAZ081.
Flood Watch from this evening through Thursday evening for
CAZ084-085.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM PST early this morning for
CAZ084-085.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Flood Watch through this evening for PZZ356.
Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this
afternoon for PZZ356-376.
Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas from 10 AM this morning
to 10 PM PST this evening for PZZ356.
Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas until 10 PM PST this
evening for PZZ376.
Small Craft Advisory for hazardous seas until 4 PM PST this
afternoon for PZZ370.
CCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
614 AM PST WED DEC 14 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0611 AM SNOW 2 N KLAMATH FALLS 42.25N 121.78W
12/14/2016 M6.3 INCH KLAMATH OR TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOWFALL SINCE 8 PM PST 12/13/16.
&&
MNDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
615 AM PST WED DEC 14 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 NNW WILDERVILLE 42.46N 123.49W
12/14/2016 M0.75 INCH JOSEPHINE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
RAINFALL SINCE 5:30 PM PST 12/13/16.
&&
MNDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
710 AM PST WED DEC 14 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0710 AM HEAVY RAIN BROOKINGS 42.06N 124.29W
12/14/2016 M1.08 INCH CURRY OR TRAINED SPOTTER
RAIN STARTED AFTER 4 PM PST 12/13/2016.
&&
MNDPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
733 AM PST WED DEC 14 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0732 AM HEAVY SNOW 9 SSE SUMMER LAKE 42.86N 120.69W
12/14/2016 M6.0 INCH LAKE OR TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED VISIBILITY DOWN TO 1/4 MILE.
&&
MNDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
An NWS employee reported standing water on Table Rock Road near TouVelle park. A spotter reported 3 mobile homes were surrounded by 1.5 feet of water at Elmhurst Street between Table Rock Road and Pinehurst Road.
A spotter reported creeks near bankfull around Wilderville along withstanding water on Highway 199 and flooded fields. ODOT reported standing water over Highway 238 near Murphy.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, December 2016
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: 665721, 665731.