Forecasters Eye Cooler, Wetter Sunday Followed by Warmer, Drier Week

Medford, Oregon- A quiet start to the weekend will give way to cooler, unsettled weather Sunday as a weak trough moves across Southern Oregon and far Northern California, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said an upper ridge will move over the region Friday and Saturday, bringing temperatures just above seasonal norms and keeping conditions mostly calm. By late Saturday, however, a weak front is expected to approach the coast and move inland on Sunday.

Rain showers are likely along the Oregon coast and into Josephine and Douglas counties, with the Cascades and higher terrain east of the mountains also seeing rainfall. Jackson, Siskiyou, and Modoc counties may only pick up a few hundredths of an inch. The front will help push temperatures below normal for Sunday.

Another ridge is forecast to build in on Monday, bringing a return to stable and warmer conditions. Daytime highs in west side valleys could climb into the upper 80s to low 90s by Tuesday, while east side communities are expected to see highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Fire weather concerns are expected through early next week. A low-pressure system will bring rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms along the coast Saturday night into Sunday morning, and across the Southern Oregon Cascades eastward during the day Sunday. Forecasters say wetting rains are likely along the coast, with inland areas seeing lower chances. Northern California zones are expected to remain mostly dry.

After the weekend, warming and drying conditions will increase fire weather risks, particularly Monday into Tuesday. Moderate east winds are possible across coastal ranges Monday morning, and forecasters expect locally poor ridgetop recoveries on Tuesday. Another weak, dry front may bring breezier conditions inland by Wednesday.

Looking further ahead, models show uncertainty about the pattern going into late next week. While the current outlook favors seasonable to cooler conditions with another chance of showers next weekend, confidence in those details remains moderate at best.