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Snow expected for Medford, Ashland commutes Wednesday Monday Feb 19, 2018 at 5:37 PM Feb 19, 2018 at 5:37 PM Mark Freeman Mail Tribune @MTwriterFreeman The first of three new winter storm fronts is expected to move through Southern Oregon Tuesday afternoon, bringing a dusting of snow that could lead to a slow and slippery morning commute Wednesday, authorities said. With overnight temperatures in the high 20s, the cold and quick-moving storm will come out of the Northwest and reach the Rogue Valley sometime in late afternoon or evening, bringing as much as an inch of snow in Medford by the time it moves south Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. "It doesn't look like a significant snowfall, but it could be enough that the Wednesday commute could be impacted," weather service meteorologist Marc Spilde said. "That's something people should take into account." That storm also is expected to bring about 2 inches of snow to places such as Lake of the Woods and Crater Lake, while the Siskiyou Summit can expect less than an inch of snow, according to the weather service. In all, the forecast contains a "high confidence" of snow above the 1,000-foot level. As the front moves south Wednesday morning, the snow or rain will dissipate, the forecast states. A second storm could come as early as Wednesday night and create a veritable repeat of Tuesday night, with highs forecast for the high 20s again. The last, and likely strongest, of the three systems is expected to hit the valley Saturday night, Spilde said. "They're all very similar in nature," Spilde said. "They're not going to carry with them a lot of moisture, but they could have impacts depending upon their temperature and timing. "But the one on the weekend looks a bit more potent at this time," Spilde said. Their fast-moving nature means forecasting their timing was uncertain late Monday, Spilde said. — Reach Mail Tribune reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman.