MEDFORD, Ore. (Mar. 8, 2026) — Early morning fog cleared from west-side valleys Sunday, giving way to clear skies and unseasonably warm temperatures across southern Oregon and far northern California.
Daytime highs climbed above seasonal averages in many areas, with the warmest conditions expected in lower elevations of Siskiyou and Modoc counties, according to forecasters.
Marine clouds and fog could return overnight as onshore flow increases, possibly bringing stratus along the coast and into some valleys by Monday morning. However, forecasters say widespread valley fog like what developed late Saturday into Sunday morning appears unlikely.
Moisture moving farther inland may limit fog formation by preventing the strong overnight cooling that typically allows dense fog to develop. Any light rain showers that occur could also mix the lower atmosphere enough to reduce fog potential.
Through much of the upcoming week, weather patterns are expected to shift to a more zonal flow, meaning winds aloft will move generally from west to east. This setup is expected to steer most Pacific moisture north of the region.
As a result, only slight chances of precipitation — generally between 20% and 40% — are forecast along coastal areas north of Cape Blanco and across Douglas County toward the Cascades. Any showers that develop are expected to be light and primarily confined to higher terrain where air is forced upward over mountains.
A tightening pressure gradient between a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska and a Pacific ridge could bring breezy to gusty winds across exposed terrain during afternoon and evening hours, though speeds are expected to remain below advisory levels.
Temperatures are forecast to trend cooler early in the week as colder air moves into the region through Tuesday night.
While daytime highs are expected to dip slightly below seasonal averages, the biggest impacts could come overnight. The coldest temperatures are expected Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Coastal areas could see lows between 33 and 36 degrees, which may allow for patchy frost. West-side valleys are forecast to dip into the low 30s, while communities east of the Cascades could fall into the mid-teens to low 20s.
Snow levels are expected to drop to between 1,000 and 2,000 feet Tuesday night. However, with only slight precipitation chances and very limited moisture, any snowfall would likely be minimal and confined to higher elevations. Forecasters say any accumulation would be negligible and winter travel impacts are not expected.
Later in the week, weather fronts associated with the Gulf of Alaska low-pressure system are expected to track north of the region but could push additional moisture toward the Pacific Northwest. That could increase the chance of showers in Curry County and raise precipitation probabilities in Coos and Douglas counties toward the Cascades.
By that time, snow levels are expected to rise above 6,000 feet, limiting any snowfall to the highest mountain peaks and ridgelines.
Forecasters note that some uncertainty remains in the exact track of moisture and the position of upper-level weather systems. Even so, no widespread hazardous weather conditions are expected across the region through the coming week unless forecast patterns change significantly.
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