MEDFORD, Ore. (Jan. 26, 2026) — A Pacific weather system is set to move inland late Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, bringing showers, gusty southerly winds and limited snowfall to higher elevations across southern Oregon and far northern California, forecasters said Monday.
Rainfall will be most widespread west of the Cascades, with coastal areas and western Siskiyou County expected to see the highest totals. Forecasters said amounts along the coast and in the Coast Range could range from a quarter to a half inch, with locally higher totals near an inch possible in the Curry Coast Range. Inland valleys, including the Rogue Valley, are expected to receive lighter rainfall, generally less than a tenth of an inch, though there is a 60 to 70 percent chance of measurable precipitation.
East of the Cascades, precipitation chances decrease significantly, with about a 30 percent chance of light rain Tuesday night. Snow levels are forecast to hover between 4,500 and 5,000 feet, limiting snowfall to higher elevations. Snow accumulations in the Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains are expected to be minimal, generally an inch or less, as the system weakens while moving inland.
Winds are expected to strengthen throughout Tuesday morning and afternoon as the front approaches. The strongest gusts are forecast in the Shasta Valley, where speeds could reach 45 mph, particularly near Weed, California. Portions of the southern Rogue Valley could see sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts between 30 and 40 mph, while higher terrain areas may experience gusts of 35 to 40 mph. Areas east of the Cascades could see gusts of 25 to 30 mph.
Along the coast, forecasters expect breezy to gusty south winds, though conditions are not expected to reach high wind warning criteria. Peak gusts at coastal headlands could reach 45 to 55 mph, according to meteorologists, driven by strong low-level winds associated with the approaching front.
The gusty conditions prompted wind advisories for parts of the Shasta Valley and southern Rogue Valley. In addition to strong surface winds, low-level wind shear is expected late Tuesday morning into the afternoon along the coast and over higher terrain, which could affect aviation operations.
Showers associated with the front could also lower ceilings and visibility at times, particularly Tuesday evening, and may obscure higher terrain across the region. Forecasters said some precipitation may initially fall as virga — rain that evaporates before reaching the ground — especially ahead of the main band of showers.
Despite the unsettled conditions, meteorologists said the system will provide some benefits by clearing out stagnant air that has been trapped across the region under prolonged high pressure and above-normal temperatures over the past two weeks. Conditions Monday remained relatively mild, with high-level cloud cover streaming overhead ahead of the approaching system.
Looking ahead, forecasters said the broader weather pattern will remain active through the latter part of the week, though there is uncertainty regarding how far south the main storm track will dip. Another front could approach late Wednesday into Thursday, with the highest precipitation chances favoring coastal and northern areas. Locations east of the Cascades and south of the Oregon-California border appear less likely to see significant rainfall.
By late week and into the weekend, an upper-level ridge is expected to build near and east of the Cascades into Idaho, steering most storm systems north toward the Pacific Northwest. While occasional weak disturbances could bring light precipitation to coastal areas, forecasters said there are no clear signals for a sustained return to wetter conditions or significant mountain snowpack growth in the region.
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