A front stalled over the area on these dates, bringing an extended period of heavy snow and wind to northern California.
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.
A front stalled over the area on these dates, bringing an extended period of heavy snow and wind to northern California.
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 26, 4:09 AM PST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
409 AM PST Tue Jan 26 2021
.DISCUSSION...A dangerous winter storm with historically significant
snowfall is expected to impact parts of Northern California,
including Interstate 5, late today into Wednesday morning, with
snow impacts continuing into Thursday night before tapering off.
Our message to those considering traveling this evening into early
Wednesday morning around Mount Shasta City area including on
Interstate 5 is simple--please don't travel during this timeframe.
Conditions will be very dangerous with heavy snowfall, very low
visibility, and dangerously cold wind chills as low as 10 degrees.
Snow and wind impacts will reach into Southern Oregon as well,
though not expected to wield the type of impact that's expected in
Siskiyou County. More to follow on that.
Satellite imagery this morning shows a well developed low pressure
system over the offshore waters moving towards the coast.
Precipitable water values are significant, about an inch along the
offshore front. As the associated front moves towards the coast, the
surface pressure gradient will tighten and southerly winds will
increase across the forecast area. These winds, in combination with
the approaching front and moisture, will fuel heavy precipitation
into favored upslope areas like the Coast Range, the Siskiyous,
and heaviest in the vicinity of Mount Shasta and Mount Shasta
City. The front will run into a cold air mass, so much of this
heavy precipitation will be in the form of snow. Moisture
transport values are in the top 10 percent of what one might
expect for this time of year, and this is especially notable given
the cold air mass. Usually the highest moisture systems have
higher snow levels.
All of this adds up to heavy snow later today into Wednesday, up to
2 inches per hour this evening through tonight, impacting portions
of Interstate 5 from south of Dunsmuir north through Weed to around
Grenada. Strong winds will accompany the snow at times, especially
in the vicinity of Weed. Most of Siskiyou County is in a Winter
Storm Warning, and we have Warnings out for the higher terrain of
Joesphine County as well. Heavy precipitation rates and the
aforementioned cold air mass could deliver significant snowfall to
valley floors in the Illinois Valley, portions of Douglas County
above 1500 ft, the Klamath River Valley (including Seiad Valley,
Happy Camp), and elevations above 1500 ft in Jackson County. We
have Winter Weather Advisories out for these areas. There's no
doubt the south winds will dry out portions of Jackson County as
is typical, so some areas will see little to no snowfall. Still,
it only takes a few hours of snow to cause impacts, and some areas
won't see as much drying with the south wind such as the higher hills
east of Talent and Ashland, and we'll leave the Advisory out for
those reasons. East of the Cascades can be even trickier in these
situations, and most areas will see snowfall into Wednesday. We've
highlighted the most significant snowfall areas with a Winter
Weather Advisory including portions of Highways 140, 97, and 139.
The Cascades will see significant snow as well, particularly near
Crater Lake.
Winds, as mentioned, will be hefty and will compound any impacts
that snowfall delivers, especially in the Weed area along Interstate
5...and in areas east of the Cascades. A High Wind Warning has been
issued for portions of the coast--specifically for areas south of
Cape Blanco--with the latest data pinging Gold Beach and Port Orford
with gusts to 60+ mph. Additionally the high resolution HRRR model
is showing very gusty conditions in the Rogue Valley today,
especially in the area foothills. These impacts have been rolled
into the Winter Weather Advisory for that area.
The winter weather impacts continue Wednesday into Thursday night as
low pressure remains just west of the CA/OR coastline and spreads
deep southerly flow and snowfall into many of the same areas that
see heavy snowfall later today into tonight. Snowfall rates, and
thus impacts, won't be as significant as today/tonight, but
continued heavy, wet snow in areas will add weight to
trees/powerlines, etc. Snow levels will also increase some during
this time as the air mass warms some, but not by much. Continued
gusty south winds are expected as well. A shortlived reprieve from
precipitation can be expected Friday. The longer-term discussion
follows. Keene
Long-term discussion from the previous AFD for Friday through
Sunday...The next system will be arriving from the west by Friday
evening and Friday night.
Like the previous storm systems, this one will likely be
arriving from the north with a cooler airmass. However, ensembles
suggest this weekend storm system isn't as anomalously cold as the
storm on the 24th and the upcoming one on the 26th. Snow levels
will likely be around 3500 feet. We see little change in the snow
levels based on the distribution of the ensemble members this
weekend.
The other important feature of this storm is that it has some
important components of an atmospheric river. About 66% percent of
the global ensemble forecast system(GEFS) members incorporate a
weak to moderate atmospheric river this weekend. None of the GEFS
members show exceptionally high water vapor transport for this
weekend. Overall, impacts are not expected to be as high because the
potential for low level snow and flooding is low with the storm
system this weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...For the 26/12Z TAFs...VFR conditions should prevail for
most areas, with the exception of several West Side valleys, mainly
the Umpqua, Coquille, Rogue, and Klamath River valleys, where
periods of LIFR ceilings are expected through this morning.
A strong low will reach the coast Tuesday afternoon then swing
through the region Tuesday evening with rain and snow, mainly MVFR
conditions, and increasing gusty low level southerly winds. This
includes a potential for low level wind shear over the Coastal Range
during late afternoon and early evening. The freezing level will
fall from around 2500 feet to 1800 feet MSL. By tonight, IFR/LIFR
conditions will likely prevail for most areas, with widespread low
ceilings, and snow and blowing snow above 1500-2000 feet MSL.
-DW/BPN
&&
.MARINE...Updated 200 AM PST Tuesday, 26 Jan 2021...Steep, swell
dominated seas this morning will quickly give way to worsening
conditions later this morning and this afternoon as a very strong
cold front approaches the coast. Expect rapidly increasing southerly
winds to reach storm force by this afternoon, with wind-driven seas
becoming very steep and hazardous. winds will weaken with the
passage of the front this evening, then very steep fresh swell will
follow Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.
South winds increase again Wednesday with the next front. Winds will
be much weaker than the Tuesday system, and are only expected to
reach advisory levels at 20 to 30 kt. But, very steep seas build
again Wednesday into Wednesday evening, peaking around 14 to 18 ft.
Conditions then improve Thursday into Friday. But, the pattern will
remain active with worsening conditions expected late Friday into
the weekend. -DW/BPN
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 4 AM PST Wednesday
for ORZ030-031.
Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 AM PST Wednesday for
ORZ030-031.
High Wind Warning from noon today to 6 PM PST this evening for
ORZ021-022.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Wednesday below 1500 feet in the for ORZ024.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Wednesday above 1500 feet in the for ORZ024.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST
Wednesday above 1500 feet in the for ORZ023.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 4 AM PST Wednesday
above 1500 feet in the for ORZ026.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 4 AM PST Wednesday
for ORZ027-028.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 4 AM PST Wednesday
for CAZ083-085.
Winter Storm Warning from noon today to 4 PM PST Wednesday for
CAZ081>083.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Wednesday below 1500 feet in the for CAZ080.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Wednesday above 1500 feet in the for CAZ080.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 4 AM PST Wednesday
for CAZ081.
Pacific Coastal Waters...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM PST this morning for
PZZ350-356-370-376.
Storm Warning from 7 AM this morning to 5 PM PST this afternoon
for PZZ350-356-370-376.
Hazardous Seas Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 2 AM PST
Thursday for PZZ350-356-370-376.The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter 6E Gold Beach reported 8.5 inches of snow in 24 hours at 2790 feet ending at 27/0800 PST. The same spotter reported an additional 3.25 inches of snow at 28/0800 PST, with a 48 hour liquid equivalent of 0.91 inches.
A spotter 2SSW OBrien reported 7.0 inches of snow between 26/1300 PST and 27/0743 PST. The same spotter reported an additional 1.0 inches overnight at 28/0730 PST. Pacific Power reported 45000 customers without power in the Josephine County area at 27/1030 PST. A spotter 5NNE Selma reported 8.5 inches of snow on Hayes Hill at 27/0827 PST. A spotter 5WSW Wilderville reported 10.0 inches of new snow in 24 hours ending at 27/1015 PST. Interstate 5 was closed from around 26/1700 PST until 26/2020 PST.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oregon in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, January 2021
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: 930650, 930649.