Hello winter! Below and attached is the NWS’s briefing regarding the next
winter storm to affect our region. Note that most of the impacts are to
mountain passes, the Mount Shasta-area, and northern Klamath County, Wednesday
night into Thursday morning. Expect dangerous travel conditions due to blowing
snow in some locations.
Morgan
[https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-meVj9PAEijU9gjsFj4u6HSxMHMiQmC-zOMkOqDDygZcoml-vOoTprXaXlvl9MUOIVhEmDZ3pv98DggSIDHsPoo0CNFdccFcZOkhIG2SPlhCJ0_1XpHZFh0SuhEWGMOQ93fx41p8]
Tuesday, February 27th 2018
Heavy snow possible on mountain passes and in the Mt Shasta City area Wednesday
Afternoon and Thursday
Snow Impacts
· Cascades: Very dangerous travel with heavy snow packed roads in the the
higher mountains late Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.
· Mount Shasta Area: Very dangerous travel with heavy snow packed roads
Wednesday night into Thursday.
· Heavy snow rates and Strong Winds will result in very low visibilities and
local whiteout conditions at times in the Southern Oregon Cascades and in the
Mount Shasta Area.
· Eastside: Snow and Gusty Winds will lead to very low visibilities and
possible whiteout conditions, especially on Highway 97 north of Chiloquin.
· Snow covered roads at lower passes between Sexton Summit and Canyon Mountain
late Wednesday night and again Thursday night.
· Snow covered roads more likely over Siskiyou Summit Wednesday night through
Thursday night.
· Slick spots or light snow covered roads down to lower valley floors towards
daybreak Friday.
Wind Impacts
· Shasta Valley near Weed: Strong gusty winds Wednesday afternoon into
Wednesday night.
· Higher mountains of the Cascades and Eastside: Strong gusty winds Wednesday
evening through Thursday morning.
· Coastal headlands: Strong gusty winds Wednesday evening.
Forecast Confidence -Snow
· Heavy Snow: High for the higher passes in the Southern Oregon Cascades and
Mount Shasta Area.
· Medium for snow covered roads on lower passes between Sexton Summit and
Canyon Mountain and Siskiyou Summit late Wednesday night through Friday.
· Low to medium for snow covered roads on the lower valley floors west of the
Cascades late Thursday night and Friday.
Forecast Confidence - Strong Winds
· Medium to high in the Shasta Valley, higher mountains of the Cascades, East
Side, and Coastal headlands.
Timing and Strength
· Snow:
o Snow levels start between 2000 and 3000 feet Wednesday morning, rise to
4000 feet Wednesday afternoon, except remaining near 2000 feet around Mt.
Shasta City/Dunsmuir. Snow levels lower to 1500 to 2500 feet late Wednesday
night and Thursday.
o Snow levels may lower to 500 feet Thursday night into Friday morning.
§ Snow will be heaviest over the higher mountain passes in the Cascades and
over higher terrain above 4000 feet in western Siskiyou County Wednesday
evening through Thursday morning.
§ Heavy wet snow likely in the Mount Shasta City area Wednesday night through
Thursday morning.
§ Light to moderate snow possible on lower passes between Sexton Summit and
Canyon Mountain and Siskiyou Summit late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
o See attached graphic for heavy snow.
· Winds:
o Strongest winds are expected late Wednesday afternoon through early
Wednesday night in the Shasta Valley near Weed. Winds may gust up to 50 mph.
o Strongest winds are expected Wednesday night into Thursday over the
Cascades and East Side. Winds may gust to around 40 to 50 mph.
o Winds will be strongest along the coast Wednesday evening. Winds may gust
to 50 to 65 mph along coastal headlands.
o See attached graphic for strong winds.
Weather Summary
A warm front will move into the area Wednesday morning with light to moderate
precipitation and snow levels briefly jumping up to around 4000 feet Wednesday
afternoon. The exception will be near and around Mount Shasta City where snow
levels will hover between 2000 and 2500 feet.
A strong cold front will arrive at the coast late Wednesday evening, then move
inland Wednesday night. Heavy precipitation is expected along the coast,
coastal mountains and Siskiyou County Wednesday evening through Wednesday
night. Snow levels will fall with moderate to heavy snow expected in the
mountains of western Siskiyou County and in the Mount Shasta area, including
Mount Shasta City during this time period.
A much colder air mass follows Thursday through Friday with plenty of showers
and low snow levels. Additional snow impacts are possible during this time,
even in the lower elevations, but confidence on the details is low.
Gusty winds are expected ahead of the front along the coast Wednesday evening;
in the Shasta Valley near Weed Wednesday afternoon and night; and over the
Eastside Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The combination of strong winds
and snow will create visibility problems, with the possibility of whiteout
conditions Wednesday night into Thursday in the Shasta Valley, the higher
mountains, and across the East Side.
[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1vbT3uTzetf5udOWV0xdBAgt2HxHdRLP7GVwTZdnICVZBjv0FT5CxPfiMBRyzKAO3nB0EBxTCpP2mJyrJkVgIw8y44TgeAMDNLkZ9Q2CJvEBWnK_JkCw_zgTgT3Q6tLLWyhYnrmk][https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PXiLh00gGJjj74-O3jm6B6cHgSeO_y-3S-fLYbkfSgvCaAyLGAsMzG_GwUMH3r6lhAEwl7xF7aE56oZrZbu4Ms736XNaTmRae4T6nv9s2auYUG0E5rlsS8m9xTB3Q0p7ZXcqpA1F]
For a detailed view of the hazards areas, visit the NWS Weather and Hazards
Viewer.<http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr>
Please do not reply to this email. Monitor NWS Medford on the
web<http://weather.gov/medford>
Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/NationalWeatherService.Medford.gov?sk=wall>
Twitter<https://twitter.com/NWSMedford> and
YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSMedford> for further updates.
Attachment:
NWS E-mail Briefing 02_27_2018.pdf
Description: NWS E-mail Briefing 02_27_2018.pdf
