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Snowstorm clogs passes Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Heavy snow fell on Interstate 5's Siskiyou pass Wednesday, making driving treacherous. As odd as it seems, it's nothing strange for spring in Southern Oregon. By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A spring snowstorm briefly fouled traffic Wednesday and kept road crews busy. Snow on the Interstate 5 Siskiyou Summit caused a lot of vehicles to spin out, forcing Oregon Department of Transportation officials to halt traffic traveling south for about 20 minutes at around 1 p.m. while crews helped drivers get back on the road, said John Vial, ODOT district manager. Chains were required on all vehicles going over the summit Wednesday night. No serious accidents were reported. Crews continuously plowed and sanded the freeway, and chains were not required Wednesday, Vial said. Snow flurries also plagued passes on highways 62, 66, 138 and 140 Wednesday afternoon. The summit of Crater Lake Highway collected 15 inches of new snow on top of 112 inches already piled up on the side of the road. The Diamond Lake summit of Highway 138 received a trace of new snow on top of 102 inches. Drivers should anticipate similar storms in the spring that may not last long but can make driving difficult, Vial said. "It just snows like crazy, makes a big mess and half an hour later, you've got bare pavement," Vial said. ODOT maintains signs warning motorists to carry traction devices long after sunny days arrive because spring snowstorms can usually be expected in the region, Vial said. ODOT crews have plowed snow on the Siskiyou summit as late as May 31, Vial added. During heavy spring showers in the valley, it's not unusual to see snowflakes or hail pellets mixed in with the raindrops, said meteorologist Shawn Rossi, at the National Weather Service's Medford Forecast Office. However, no measurable snow was recorded in Medford, he said. The storm - a low pressure system followed by cold air from the Gulf of Alaska - was on its way out Wednesday, Rossi said. The valley may get a little rain today before sunny skies reappear Friday, he said. A low temperature of 35 degrees and a high of 57 degrees was forecast for Medford today. Ashland's temperature was expected to dip to 33 degrees in the early morning before reaching 54 degrees later in the day. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.