November 16, 2024 6:00 a.m.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening for mountain areas and higher elevations in parts of southern Oregon.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service said heavy snow is possible.

The Watch area includes the South Central and Southern Oregon Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains. It applies to portions of highways 138, 230, 58, 62, 140 and 66 including Crater Lake, Diamond Lake, Union Creek, Lake of the Woods, Willamette Pass and Mount Ashland.

Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches are possible for the Siskiyou Mountains and the Southern Oregon Cascades from Lake of the Woods southward. 12 to 16 inches is possible north of Lake of the Woods. Winds could gust as high as 35 miles per hour.

The Watch area also includes the eastern Douglas County foothills above 2,500 feet, where accumulations between 7 and 15 inches of snow are possible.

Forecasters said roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes.

Snow levels will be around 6,000 feet early Sunday afternoon then fall rapidly Sunday evening. Snow levels will remain around 2,500 to 3,000 feet in eastern Douglas County Sunday evening through Monday evening.

Listen to News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN and check www.541radio.com to stay connected with updated weather information.