Isolated Thunderstorms Possible Saturday as Warm Front Approaches

MEDFORD, Ore. (Feb. 25, 2026) — Rain diminished to scattered showers across southern Oregon on Wednesday as most rivers, creeks and streams crested and began receding, forecasters said.

The main exception is the Coquille River at the Coquille gauge, which remains in minor flood stage and is still rising slightly. The river is known to linger above flood stage longer than expected, prompting officials to extend a Flood Warning through Friday afternoon. Elsewhere, waterways across the region were expected to continue falling, if they had not already started to do so.

Radar imagery Wednesday afternoon showed a few light showers drifting across the area, with coverage expected to decrease through the evening and possibly linger overnight.

Snow levels, hovering between 4,000 and 5,000 feet during the day, are forecast to drop to about 3,000 to 4,000 feet by tonight. While some light mountain snow is possible, forecasters said no significant winter impacts are anticipated. Refreezing snowmelt and rainfall could create isolated slick spots.

An upper-level ridge is expected to build back into the region for the latter half of the week, bringing drier and warmer conditions Thursday and Friday, and potentially into Saturday. Valley locations — particularly west of the Cascade Range — are likely to see strong overnight inversions with fog and low clouds lingering into the mornings.

Forecast models indicate a warm front approaching from the southwest Saturday, bringing widespread light precipitation. By Saturday afternoon, an upper-level trough is expected to move just offshore, with a shortwave forecast to pass overhead later in the day.

If cooler air aloft arrives in time to interact with daytime warming, forecasters said convection or isolated thunderstorms could develop, mainly in Northern California, along the Siskiyou Mountains and far southern Oregon Cascades, and across Klamath Falls and Lakeview areas. Any stronger showers or thunderstorms could produce brief moderate to heavy rain and small hail or graupel. Most locations, however, are expected to see mainly light precipitation through Sunday.

With the arrival of the warm front, snow levels are forecast to rise well above 7,000 feet, limiting winter travel concerns.

High pressure is then expected to return early next week, bringing warmer temperatures and dry conditions. Another weak system could approach by midweek, forecasters said.