The Ugly Weather Continues (Medford, Ashland: office, parking, areas)

[Larry Caldwell]

Not a drop of rain in sight. The drought deepens every day. This winter is starting to break records.

[jjpop]

"Ugly" is an apt description. We are in for a world of hurt come summer unless we get some significant snowfall in the mountains soon.

[PNW-type-gal]

NWS Medford says the high pressure ridge (the pattern in place since late summer, directing most moisture up and over us) should start to break up around the 28th, into the beginning of February.

Of course, the bulk of our precip in the Rogue Valley comes Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, so that isn't all that helpful...

[FVWinters]

Got more bad news for ya:
The Medford office of the NWS is forecasting "Critical fire danger" for the southwestern ridges and the coastal strip. Easterly down sloping winds are expected to bring uncharacteristically low humidities, gusts of up to 40 MPH in exposed areas and for some, temperatures topping out in the mid-upper 70's.
You can read all the details here:
National Weather Service - NWS Medford

[Hawk J]

We've had many sunny days this winter, here on the mountain......only snowed once......We need RAIN......

[gypsydoc]

I get uneasy with the dryness. Water is the basis for life, after air. Conservation and using water more intelligently is really important. Just looked at the Timberline webcams and the parking lot and roads look pretty clear - like dry as a bone clear. The snow is looking old and tired.

[Larry Caldwell]

Hope for a really wet spring. Hoodoo is closed - no snow. Mt. Ashland is closed - no snow. There is 6" on the ground at the Crater Lake rim.

On the up side, plan a trip to Detroit Lake in the late summer. You might be able to drive right out to the original town of Detroit, which hasn't been above water since 1977. Plan for water shortages everywhere. If it's wet enough this spring and it doesn't quit raining until the first of July, we might make it through without water rationing.

Thing are even worse in California. SoCal is having the driest year in history. Fire season is lasting all year long in the whole state. I thing Washington and BC have been wetter, so the Columbia should have good flow, but the Willamette is likely to turn into a mud puddle.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm not concerned. We have years of excessive rainfall, average years and drought years. So this is a drought year. We'll water our lawns less and survive.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

There is 6" on the ground at the Crater Lake rim.

Holy cow! That is the most startling statistic I've seen yet. For a place that gets, on average, over 500 inches of snow each season.

And yes, in the scheme of things this year will pass, but it's still worthy of concern in my opinion.

[Challenger76]

This is my brothers first year in Oregon. He moved there because he loves rain and overcast, so far he's not impressed with the weather. A bit too sunny for him.