Snowfall unlikely to be significant  

March 4, 2010

     A cold front brought approximately one inch of snow to the Klamath Basin late Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon, though little accumulation was reported, according to the National Weather Service’s Southern Oregon Bureau.

   “We saw some snow showers in the Basin,” said Medford-based meteorologist Kelly Sugden. “It will taper off and clear out, though.”

   The front passed over the southern portions of Oregon and into Northern California, reaching from the Mount Shasta area north toward Bend. Sugden said the front should pass in the early hours today. She added that a new front could reach Siskiyou and Modoc counties late Friday, but the accumulation from that storm is unlikely to be significant.

   Officials at Crater Lake recorded approximately five inches of new snow between Tuesday and   Wednesday. Heavy accumulation was confined largely to higher elevation areas throughout the southern portions of the state.

   Peter Murphy with the Oregon Department of Transportation said several patches of black ice were reported on highways around Klamath Falls, most notably on Highway 140, approximately 10   miles west of town. Black ice is often difficult for motorists to spot, and can cause over-aggressive drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

   “When you get into the areas that start rising, with the moisture and temperatures coming down, spots of black ice can appear,” Murphy said. “It’s a sign to be careful.”

   He added the black ice should melt, as temperatures are predicted to warm up in the coming days. He warned, however, that motorists need to “bring an attitude that’s appropriate for driving in the conditions they find themselves in.”