Temperatures are expected to soar

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A frost protective cover of ice melts from pear blossom as frost warnings turn to forecasts of temperatures in the 80's for this week-end. Bob Pennell / Mail Tribune photoBob Pennell

Near-record heat is expected in a warm weekend in the Rogue Valley.

Just a few days after snow sprinkled the region, temperatures will soar, the National Weather Service reports.

A ridge of high pressure will build across Southern Oregon Saturday and Sunday, pushing temperatures to around 80 degrees. Temperatures will continue to climb Monday, with some mellowing Tuesday before the next wave of cool weather rolls in Wednesday, meteorologist Mike O'Brien said.

A low-pressure system was expected to move onshore Thursday night. Light rains — likely less than a 10th of an inch — were forecast for the coast, with some showers lingering in the Rogue Valley today. Today's high temperature is expected to reach 65 degrees, with the sun breaking through by afternoon.

Starting on Saturday, however, a build-up of high pressure will bring warm, sunny days and pleasant nights. The predicted high temperature for Saturday in Medford is 76. Sunday is expected to reach 82, while Monday will soar to 85.

Weather records show that the normal daytime temperature for this time of year is 64 degrees, O'Brien said.

"Twenty degrees warmer than normal is notable," he said, adding that the normal is an average comprising warm, sunny and cold, wet days — the changeable mix that makes up every spring.

Early this week, overnight lows lingered around the freezing mark and daytime highs climbed only into the 50s. A sprinkling of snow was seen around the valley Tuesday and orchardists took measures to protect blooming pear trees from frost Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

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