Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Medford, OR

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035 FXUS66 KMFR 232116 AFDMFR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Medford OR 216 PM PDT Thu May 23 2024 .DISCUSSION...
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Temperatures will cool off the next few days as another trough of low pressure sweeps through the region on Friday. Both the forcing and the moisture associated with the trough will be weak, so rain shower activity will be light, and mainly west of the Cascades in mountainous areas; relying on orographic ascent to help fuel them. There are only isolated pockets on the eastern Douglas County and Northern Klamath county where more than 0.1" of liquid precipitation is expected from these showers; and in these areas, we expect rain and snow to mix as the snow level will be around 4000 to 4500 feet. East of the Cascades there is a widespread 10-20% chance for an isolated thunderstorm. Given the lack of moisture, we would expect any thunderstorm activity to be on the drier side, with rain only under its core. Better chances for thunderstorm activity will be to the east and northeast of Lake County. Winds with this Friday system will cause the general flow to be from the west, but elevated winds are only expected east of the Cascades and won`t amount to much more than an enhancement of the typical afternoon gusts. Instead, the widest ranging impact will be the increase in humidity Friday afternoon and night. After this trough exits the region Friday night, high pressure will build in and we will enter a warming and drying period from Saturday through about Tuesday. Temperatures will climb into the 80s and even 90s for much of the region, while east flow at night brings drier air in. The windiest day of this pattern is expected to be Saturday, while the driest should be Monday. Overall, there isn`t much model spread in this system and this should be a quiet period overall weather wise. The biggest unknown at this time is which nights fog forms and where, if at all. Some disruption to the high pressure is expected at this time midweek, and the most likely outcome is that the disruption is weak and short lived. -Miles
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&& .AVIATION...
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23/18Z TAFs...Stable weather will bring generally VFR conditions across northern California and southern Oregon through the TAF period. Winds will generally pick up in the afternoon before calming in the evening. MVFR ceilings are expected to build along the Oregon coast near the end of the TAF period as an upper level front approaches the area. -TAD .MARINE...Updated 230 PM Thursday, May 23, 2024...Gusty northerly winds are developing over waters south of Cape Blanco and within 50 nm from shore, with sustained speeds of 15 to 25 kts and gusts up to 35 kts near Brookings. Wind-driven steep seas are expected to build this evening, and a Small Craft Advisory will be in place from 5 PM until 11 PM this evening to communicate these hazardous conditions. Calm seas will briefly return Friday morning ahead of an upper level trough arrives in the afternoon. Showers will be possible near the Oregon coast and north of Cape Blanco. The trough will bring elevated northwest winds over all waters, with gusts up to 20 kts possible from Friday evening through Saturday morning. Steep seas are expected in all waters, with another Small Craft Advisory covering from Friday at 5 PM to Saturday at 5 PM covering the likely duration of steep seas. Past Saturday evening, upper level stability will guide conditions into the middle of next week. Currently calm seas are forecast from Saturday evening through at least next Tuesday. -TAD
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&& .MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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OR...CA...None. PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Friday for PZZ350-356-370-376.
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