A major storm system will deliver heavy rain, snow, and strong winds to our area through midweek. This storm will also cause large waves near the coastline.
Travel disruptions will be significant over several of our mountain passes, including I-5 over Siskiyou Summit and through the Mt. Shasta area. NewsWatch 12 has all you need to know.
What to expect:
An area of low pressure will swiftly deepen off the Pacific Northwest coast during the day tomorrow. The “bomb cyclone” will bring high winds to much of our area. Expect south and southeast winds to increase during the day, with the highest gusts in our region occurring from Tuesday afternoon to Tuesday night. Widespread gusts of 40-60 mph are possible.
Winds might gust to 70 mph or higher near the coast, in the Shasta Valley, and portions of the region’s higher terrain. These gusts can be harmful and make driving extremely difficult, especially in snowy terrain. Power outages will be a risk during this storm.
Along with the wind, this storm will deliver an atmospheric river of heavy precipitation to our area. Rain and higher-elevation snow will become widespread during the day and evening.
The heaviest rains will fall Tuesday night and Wednesday early. Snow levels will rise during the day on Tuesday and settle between 3,000′ and 3,500′. The Rogue Valley will have highs in the upper 40s, which is extremely cold. Siskiyou County will be chilly, with high temperatures ranging from the 30s to lower 40s. Temperatures will be lower at higher elevations.
The Klamath Basin will see highs in the mid to upper 30s. Along the coast, highs will reach the low 50s. This storm is expected to bring massive waves to coastal cities on Tuesday and Wednesday, with breaking waves reaching 30 feet.
As we approach Wednesday, driving in our higher elevations will be extremely challenging due to heavy and blowing snow. Many of us will still experience strong winds on Wednesday. Travel might be extremely difficult or impossible in the Mount Shasta area, over Siskiyou Summit, and along our Cascade passes.
The east side will also be fairly snowy, particularly in the Klamath Basin, where we can expect up to several inches. This atmospheric river will persist in our region through Wednesday night and Thursday, bringing widespread precipitation. Snow levels should rise during this time, from 4,000′ to 6,000′.
Thursday will be wet, with widespread rain and snow primarily affecting our highest peaks by afternoon. Depending on how this atmospheric river moves, we’ll need to monitor flooding potential in our area throughout the week.
From Tuesday afternoon to Saturday, parts of Curry, Josephine, and, in particular, Siskiyou Counties could receive 6-10 inches of rain. Amounts elsewhere will still be fairly significant, ranging between 1-4″. Burn scars will be vulnerable to debris flows.
Heavy, prolonged rainfall will also increase the risk of rock collapses. The forecast models continue to be highly busy for us this weekend. We’ll be fine-tuning specifics, effects, and precipitation throughout the week, so stay tuned on-air and online for updates.
ACTIVE WEATHER ALERT ISSUED:
A HIGH-WIND WARNING has been issued for Coastal Curry County from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday; the Shasta Valley in northern Siskiyou County from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 1 p.m. Wednesday; and Lake and Klamath Counties from 7 p.m. For further information, click the ‘Alerts’ tab above.
A WIND ADVISORY has been issued for Eastern Curry, Josephine, and Jackson Counties from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. For further information, click the ‘Alerts’ tab above.
A WINTER STORM WARNING has been issued for the Cascades and Siskiyous above 4,000 feet, southern and eastern Siskiyou County, and western Siskiyou County above 3,500 feet, northern and eastern Klamath County, western Lake County, and Central Siskiyou County from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. For further information, click the ‘Alerts’ tab above.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for northern and eastern Klamath County, western Lake County, from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 4 p.m. Tuesday. For further information, click the ‘Alerts’ tab above.
A HIGH SURF WARNING has been issued for the southern Oregon coast from 10 a.m. Tuesday until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Large breaking waves of up to 30 feet are forecast. For further information, click the ‘Alerts’ tab above.
