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Sixth wettest year on record in Medford won't let up A pasture is flooded on Table Rock Road after months of rain that have made this water year the sixth wettest on record. [Mail Tribune / Denise Baratta] Monday Mar 6, 2017 at 9:45 AM Mar 6, 2017 at 4:00 PM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil Following the latest round of winter weather to drape parts of southwestern Oregon with snow, Medford is in the midst of its sixth wettest year on record. As of early Monday, about 20.82 inches of precipitation had fallen on the city since Oct. 1, when the 2016-17 water year began, the National Weather Service reported. The average amount is 12.41 inches. The reigning champion is still 1955-56, when nearly 27 inches of precipitation fell. Snowpack in the Rogue and Umpqua basins is at 133 percent of average, according to data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sites such as Big Red Mountain, Annie Springs, Fourmile Lake and Diamond Lake are included in that snow-water equivalent measurement. The region's weekend snowfall dropped "close to sea level," with a little snowfall recorded in Port Orford, Weather Service meteorologist Shad Keene said. Crater Lake was closing in on 2 feet of new snow late Sunday, with 3 to 6 inches across the Illinois Valley, about 2 inches in Grants Pass, 1-1/4 inches in Eagle Point and 2 inches in parts of Ashland. Oregon Department of Transportation officials plan to close Highway 62 inside Crater Lake National Park at 6 p.m. Monday because of the heavy snow and said they would focus their efforts on keeping traffic moving on highways 230 and 138. They expected the park would remain closed at least until Tuesday afternoon because of an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow expected overnight. Snow is expected to shift to rain for much of this week, with chances of additional rainfall and scattered showers through at least late Thursday. "We've got multiple storm systems coming in. The wet conditions, they don't look like they give up until Friday afternoon," Keene said. Snow covered some area highways Monday in the hills, including parts of Dead Indian Memorial Road and Highway 140 out toward Lake of the Woods. Interstate 5 traffic had its share of issues, too. Reports of numerous spinouts and stalls at about milepost 80 near Glendale prompted a temporary hold on southbound traffic. Motorists driving on area highways should continue to be prepared. They should carry tire chains, flashlight, batteries, blankets, food, water, medications and a fully charged phone in their vehicle. They should also budget extra time to get to their destination and allow for extra room between vehicles. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.