Thunderstorms with marble-sized hail in Western Siskiyou County Sunday

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A report was issued from the NWS Medford OR on Sunday at 5:20 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 5:45 p.m. for Western Siskiyou County.

Wind gusts of up to 30 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) are foreseen.

“At 5:19 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 9 miles east of Dillon Creek Campground, or 13 miles south of Happy Camp. This storm was nearly stationary,” says the NWS. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”

The NWS states, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding of smaller drainages. Do not drive your vehicle across flooded roadways.”

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This alert is in effect until 5:45 p.m.

What to do as threat of lightning approaches?

Lightning hits the United States approximately 25 million times annually. The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS. The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. This risk decreases as the storm moves away.

Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm:

• To reduce the chance of being struck by lightning, when venturing outside, have a plan to get to a safer area.
• If the sky grows ominous and you hear thunder, seek out a safe place to take shelter.
• Once indoors, avoid touching corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside.

If finding indoor shelter is not an option:

• Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
• Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures. When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
• If you are in a group, spread out to avoid the current traveling between group members.
• If you are camping in an open setting, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low spot. Bear in mind, a tent does not protect you from lightning.
• Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects. While water and metal do not draw lightning, they are proficient conductors of electricity.

What steps to follow when driving in the rain?

• Turn on your headlights – Even when it’s light outside, using headlights can improve visibility and alert other drivers to your presence.
• While driving – Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground. Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.
• Steer clear of puddles – Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.
• Do not follow large vehicles closely – Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
• Avoid flooded zones – If you encounter a flooded road, make a U-turn and go back. The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road. Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle’s mechanical and electrical systems.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle’s weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. The top three contributors to hydroplaning are:

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1. Vehicle speed – When a vehicle’s speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
2. Water depth – The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn’t matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.
3. Tire tread depth – Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know:

• Ease off the accelerator – Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
• Turn into the skid – Turning into the skid can help the vehicle’s tires realign to regain control.
• Make sure the tires reconnect with the road – During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
• Brake gently as needed – Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.

Source: The National Weather Service

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This story was originally published September 27, 2026 at 5:25 PM.