Key facts: Medford
- Medford is dry by Oregon standards, at about 18.4 inches of precipitation a year, most of it from November to January.[1]
- The creek runs about 28.8 miles from near Emigrant Lake through Ashland and Medford to the Rogue at Central Point, and flooding along it has become a recurring problem.[2]
- December 1964 remains the city's wettest month, at about 12.7 inches.[1]
Bear Creek through the valley
A closer look in Medford
Hot summers, then winter leaks
With about 61 days above 90°F a year,[1] AC drain lines and roofs bake through summer, then face the first winter rain. Look for attic stains in November, before the wet stretch arrives.
Flood claims recorded in Jackson County
Medford sits in Jackson County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 304 |
| Year with the most claims | 1997 (126) |
| Largest named event | Flooding (154) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 30% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 48% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Medford claim record shows
About 30% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a Medford home stays dry.
A newer Medford home is not exempt: 52% of claims with a known build date involved homes built in 1975 or later.
Federal disaster history for Jackson County
FEMA lists 21 federal declarations covering Jackson County. The most common types are fire (13), biological (2) and severe storm (2). The latest are Fielder Mountain Fire in 2026, Upper Applegate Road Fire in 2025 and Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds in 2020. Federal aid can open after a declaration, so Medford owners should look it up before discarding damaged items.
Medford weather and your home
Weather records for Medford from 2015 through 2024 average 34 inches of precipitation a year, and December and January are the wettest months. The area averages 4.6 days a year with an inch or more.
Frost reaches Medford on about 59 nights a year, but hard freezes are less common, which can leave pipes in attics and outer walls poorly protected in a cold snap.
When rain falls in Medford
Seasonal averages for Medford, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 13.0 in | 38% |
| April to June | 6.3 in | 19% |
| July to September | 1.7 in | 5% |
| October to December | 12.8 in | 38% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Medford home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 7% of Jackson County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Check roof flashing and drains before December, the wettest month in Medford.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Flooding, 154 insured Jackson County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Medford contractor
- Your distance from Bear Creek
- Whether AC drains ran over
- Whether the roof is sun-worn
Services Medford callers ask about
Questions
Medford water damage questions
Is Medford really at risk with so little rain?
Yes. Rain concentrates in a few months and canyons send it to the creek fast.
How do I verify a contractor?
Check the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.[3]