Helm, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

523
FXUS66 KMFR 241024
AFDMFR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
224 AM PST Sat Jan 24 2026

.DISCUSSION...High pressure remains in control, keeping the area
dry through at least the middle of next week. The shortwave that
passed over the area yesterday did manage to break the
persistent valley inversions west of the Cascades, and allowed
some drier air to mix in. This has limited, but not prevented, fog
formation this morning, with shallow fog developing in the Umpqua
Basin and in the lower Rogue Valley near Grants Pass. This later
formation of fog allowed temperatures to cool quickly before
setting in, resulting in cold temperatures and making that fog
into freezing fog.

East of the Cascades, the opposite has occured, with some added
moisture in the lower levels resulting in widespread low clouds
across the valleys of Lake and northern Klamath counties, and
even spreading into Modoc county in the last few satellite scans.
Here, low temperatures have been moderated a bit by the blanket of
clouds, but it is still quite cold with temperatures in the teens
and low 20s.

All the areas not covered by fog or low stratus will see some cold
temperatures this morning, and by tomorrow morning, with even less
cloud/fog, temperatures are likely to trend as cold if not
colder. The dry air west of the Cascades has also allowed for near
to below freezing temperatures along the coast north of Cape
Blanco. A Freeze Warning is in effect for there, with a Cold
Weather Advisory in the Umpqua. Details on these can be found at
PDXNPWMFR.

This same pattern will continue into early next week, when it
looks like the ridge will finally begin to break down, allowing
for a few wet systems to make their way into the area. These
ridges are notorious for sticking around for a long time, while
the models are notorious for having some difficulty in predicting
the breakdown. Therefore, while there are signs that
precipitation is possible with the arrival of a few systems mid to
late next week, experience tells us that this is far from
certain, especially with models already backing off on the
strength of any troughs that try to approach the West Coast.

&&

.AVIATION...24/12Z TAFs...Nighttime microphysics RGB satellite
imagery is showing MVFR (local IFR) ceilings pressing southward into
northern Klamath and Lake counties from Chemult and Crescent across
much of the Christmas Valley to Alkali Lake and Valley Falls with
patchier clouds over the Warners east of the Lakeview. Also, fog has
developed in the Umpqua Basin, including at Roseburg, and in the
lower Rogue Valley at Grants Pass. VFR prevails most everywhere else
this evening with a drier air mass moving in aloft. This will result
in VFR prevailing for North Bend, Medford and Klamath Falls.

Any areas of lower flight conditions are expected to improve through
the morning, with VFR prevailing across the region by afternoon.
Areas of fog and low stratus may develop in some of these same areas
tonight.


&&

.MARINE...Updated 200 AM PST Saturday, January 24, 2026...
North winds and steep wind-driven seas will continue this morning,
especially beyond 10 nm from shore. Winds will gradually diminish
and shift to the northeast later today, with steep seas becoming
dominated by a moderate west swell. Winds will remain strongest in
the outer waters. Conditions are expected to improve early next
week. A more active pattern is expected to begin Tuesday afternoon,
with increasing southerly winds (approaching advisory strength in
the outer waters).

&&

.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...Freeze Warning until 10 AM PST this morning for ORZ021.

     Cold Weather Advisory until 11 AM PST this morning for ORZ023.

CA...None.

PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 1 AM PST Sunday
     for PZZ350-356-370-376.

&&

$$