Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW OIT president stepping down ... RVTD debuts emergency ride home program ... Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says he's looking for work ... OIT president stepping down ... RVTD debuts emergency ride home program ... Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says he's looking for work ... WEATHER Rain, snow move Jackson County away from drought Mount Ashland saw 30 inches of snow last weekend By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 14, 2016 @ 9:07 am Updated Mar 14, 2016 at 4:11 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 14, 2016 @ 9:07 am Updated Mar 14, 2016 at 4:11 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> About a year ago, Jackson County was, at best, under "moderate drought." Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor — issued March 8, 2015 — showed the county's drought levels were anywhere from "moderate" to "extreme." Findings issued last week are much wetter. The numbers show southeast Jackson County — including Ashland — is still under a "moderate" advisory. A middle band running southwest to northeast is "abnormally dry," while the northwest part of the county outside Trail and Shady Cove contained no drought-like conditions. Weekend snow and rain helped quench the landscape even more, National Weather Service officials said, with anywhere from just under a half inch to more than 3 inches of rain falling around parts of Jackson and Josephine counties, and multiple feet of snow accumulating at higher elevations. "For the most part we are doing a lot better than we were last year," said meteorologist Brad Schaaf. "With all of the rain and snowpack these storms have provided, the reservoirs are filling. The stream flows are normal." Lack of downsloping, or winds compressing and warming as they blow down off the mountains, contributed to the rainfall. "In the Rogue Valley, we'll see strong winds or rains, but hardly ever both at the same time," Schaaf said. From 5 a.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, Medford saw just under half an inch of rain. Anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to nine-tenths of an inch fell around Ashland, with just over three-quarters of an inch in Jacksonville and more than an inch outside Eagle Point. Grants Pass received nearly 2 inches, while Sexton Summit received 3.3 inches, according to Weather Service data. Crater Lake received nearly 19 inches of snow during the same 72-hour period, Schaaf said. Mt. Ashland Ski Area, which was closed Sunday by 50 mph winds and whiteout conditions, received about 30 inches of new snow last weekend, according to mountain officials. From Jan. 1 to March 13, Medford has seen almost 6.9 inches of rain, well above the average of 5.2 inches. Just over 4.5 inches fell during the same time period in 2015. The precipitation has contributed to "significant" rises in the Rogue River at Agness and Eagle Point. A 6:15 p.m. reading taken Sunday showed the river was at nearly 7 feet at Eagle Point and more than 13 feet near Agness. Flood stages for those spots are 10 feet and 17 feet, respectively Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 14, 2016 @ 9:07 am Updated Mar 14, 2016 at 4:11 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501