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Storm may impact holiday travel National Weather Service graphic Thursday Dec 22, 2016 at 1:11 PM Dec 22, 2016 at 4:36 PM Greg Stiles Mail Tribune @GregMTBusiness It might take a little extra time getting to grandma's for Christmas. A widespread winter storm beginning tonight will continue dropping snow and rain on virtually all the Pacific states. "The storm isn't anything extreme or out of the normal," said Misty Duncan of National Weather Service's Medford office. "It's just coming at an inconvenient time with all the holiday travel." The Weather Service anticipates the heaviest snowfall to occur from the wee hours of Friday through Saturday morning, affecting travel on mountain passes and even lower levels at times. Light snow is expected throughout Christmas Eve, but forecasters aren't calling for snow on Christmas Day. The storm system is coming from the northwest with precipitation falling throughout the West. "It will deepen as it moves on shore," Duncan said. "We'll see rain all the way to Southern California. The Rogue Valley floor might see snow on Saturday morning, but we don't expect much accumulation below 1,500 to 2,000 feet." The Shasta Valley will see strong winds at times, but on this side of the Siskiyou Summit the effects will be toned down. Ashland could see wind in the 20 to 25 mph range, with the rest of the Bear Creek drainage and Rogue Valley seeing breezy conditions of 10 mph. "It will be a little windier than normal," Duncan said. "But nothing crazy." Snow accumulation at the Medford airport likely will be less than half an inch Friday with a dusting anticipated on Saturday. Saturday temperatures should be in the upper 20s and lower 30s in the Rogue Valley, dropping into the low- to mid-20s on Christmas Day. On the summits, the mercury will fall into the lower 20s Saturday and plunge into the upper teens on Christmas Day. So far this season, no Southern Oregon freeway passes have been closed because of weather. The lone road closure over the Siskiyous on Highway 140 was triggered by a truck that jackknifed. A tow truck responding to the scene was hit by another vehicle, creating a longer delay. "We've got plows and sanders ready," said Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Gary Leaming. "We'll work hard to get everybody to grandma's house in time for Christmas." He said drivers should prepare for winter driving conditions by carrying chains, water and blankets. Leaming said construction contractors working on road-related projects will have lanes cleared heading into the weekend. "Especially driving through the Oregon Cascades, people need to prepared to drive through packed snow. Of course, the Sacramento Canyon between Dunsmuir and Redding will be challenging. Cal Trans will be ready, and we will be ready, too." — Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31.