UPDATED: Numerous area schools closed Tuesday due to weather - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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Medford, Central Point and Rogue River schools closed Tuesday 123rf.com Monday Jan 2, 2017 at 12:32 PM Jan 2, 2017 at 9:20 PM Mark Freeman Mail Tribune @MTwriterFreeman Medford, Central Point and Rogue River school districts have cancelled school Tuesday as another snowstorm is expected to bring as much as 16 inches of snow to Southern Oregon and Northern California. The National Weather Service expects Medford to wake up to a half-inch of snow on the ground, with as much as 2 more inches coming in the ensuing 24 hours. The service issued a winter storm warning that will remain into effect into late Wednesday. Ashlanders can expect a little more than an inch of snow on the ground, with as many as 4 more inches falling over the next 24 hours, according to the weather service. But the brunt of the snows are forecast for places like Northern California's Mount Shasta and Southern Oregon's Crater Lake National Park, where up to 16 inches of new snow is forecast. Low pressure off the Oregon Coast continues to flex its frigid muscles, pushing waves of snowstorms eastward. "It's not over yet," says weather service meteorologist Sven Nelaimischkies. Most of the snow is forecast above the 3,000-foot level, Nelaimischkies says. "It's not going to be much on the Interstate, but back roads where the (school) buses go will see it," he says. As of press time, Medford, Central Point and Rogue River had announced closures for Tuesday.  Rogue Community College announced it would delay opening its offices serving students until 10 a.m., but classes don't resume until Jan. 9.  Wind gusts of up to 30 mph in the mountains also were expected to create areas of blowing and drifting snow, according to the weather service. The heavy snows are expected to return later Tuesday afternoon and continue into midday Wednesday, according to the weather service. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman.