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March 17, 2026Updated March 18, 2026, 10:04 a.m. PT

Highway 97 is on track to reopen late Tuesday night after a big rig leaked 60 gallons of concentrated and extremely toxic herbicide onto the highway in Dorris, north of Weed.

Traffic should resume in the northeastern California town near the Oregon border when the emergency response team is done with the cleanup — likely around 9 p.m., Director of Emergency Services Bryan Schenone said on Tuesday evening, March 17.

When cleanup is done and the area is deemed safe, he said the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office will lift the "shelter in place" order, in effect for Dorris residents since Tuesday morning.

Siskiyou County and state officials warned people to stay indoors after before 8:30 a.m., after the big rig's tank spilled paraquat on the highway and downtown, Schenone said.

Some of the herbicide splashed on passing cars, prompting the OES to warn the Highway 97 drivers to wash their vehicles thoroughly with soap and water.

One person driving through town at the time of the spill was taken to Fairchild Medical Center in Yreka for possible paraquat poisoning. They were released later that afternoon, Schenone said.

Paraquat is a "nasty" toxic substance, he said, but the slow leak gave the team time to mitigate the spill's effects. "We were able to block (drains) and throw down drain stops" in town, and most of the chemical pooled on the gravel.

The sheriff's office, California Highway Patrol and California and Oregon departments of transportation helped with the cleanup and diverted traffic along Highway 97 during the closure, Schenone said.

Original story

Toxic chemical spill closes Highway 97 in Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County and state officials closed part of Highway 97 north of Weed, and warned people in the northeastern town of Dorris to stay indoors Tuesday morning after a "highly toxic" chemical spill in town. They also warned drivers who visited Dorris after the spill to clean their vehicles.

The California Department of Transportation reported the highway is closed starting 12 miles north of Weed to 2 miles south of the Oregon border. The closure is due to a HAZMAT incident involving a disabled big rig blocking the road “just north” of Dorris, Caltrans said.

"The chemical spilled is Paraquat (Gramoxone), a highly toxic herbicide that can be fatal if inhaled or ingested," the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said and noted the toxin can be airborne.

The spill happened in downtown Dorris Tuesday morning, said sheriff's office spokesperson Sage Milestone. Deputies plan to keep the shelter in place order active until they are sure there's no risk to the public. "We don’t have a projected time for when the cleanup will be completed yet," Milestone said Tuesday afternoon, but a company is working on cleaning up the toxin.

Light winds blew in variable directions around the spill area on Tuesday morning. “At most, the gusts are 4 or 5 mph,” said Tim Daldrup with the National Weather Service’s Medford branch. Those light winds will blow the air over Dorris toward the east by early afternoon, according to the forecast, he said.

CHP: Highway 97 motorists should expect delays and detours

The California Highway Patrol out of Yreka reported all lanes on Highway 97 are closed between the Agricultural Station and Dorris Hill.

Vehicles on either side of the Highway 97 closure should expect delays and plan to take alternative routes, the CHP said. Officers are screening northbound vehicles for Dorris residents at County Road A12.

As of 1 p.m., the following alternate route is open to passenger vehicles only, the sheriff's office said: For those northbound on Highway 97, head east on Shady Dell Road, go north on East Butte Valley Road, then go north on Dorris/Brown, and finally go north on Center Street to get back on Highway 97.

Commercial vehicles are not allowed on that route, the sheriff's office said. These vehicles must wait at checkpoints at either end of the highway closure.

The CHP said there was no estimate on when the spill would be cleaned up or the highway reopened.

Siskiyou sheriff requests residents near Highway 97 in Dorris to 'shelter in place' during toxic spill

The sheriff issued the "Shelter in Place" warning at 10:20 a.m. for people living in Dorris — located roughly 7 miles south of the Oregon border — in zone DOR-4106, located east of Matthews Road and north of Richardson Road; and zone DOR-4112, west of Dorris Brownell Road and north of Richardson Road.

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People in the area should do the following while Siskiyou County's emergency response team works to make the area along the highway safe, the sheriff's office said. Until then, "we encourage everyone in the affected area to" do the following:

Anyone who thinks they were exposed to the toxin by air or touch should "call 911 immediately," the sheriff's office said.

Emergency Services Office: Motorists who drove through Dorris Tuesday morning should wash their vehicle

Motorists who drove through Dorris on Tuesday morning should clean their vehicles immediately, the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services said.

The recommendation applies to anyone who drove in or through Dorris after the toxic spill and before the CHP closed Highway 97.

“Out of an abundance of caution, please wash your vehicle with soap and water or take it through a car wash to help remove any potential residue,” the agency said on Tuesday afternoon.

This story was updated to add new information and a video.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

The 90-degree weather hitting Redding and the rest of the Sacramento Valley could shatter century-old heat records for March.

Expect temperatures to soar daily through Friday, March 20; rising roughly 30 degrees hotter than historic averages for the month, according to the National Weather Service.

Redding’s afternoon temperatures usually hover around 65 degrees in mid-March. "This is weather we usually see the first week of May in Redding,” said Dakari Anderson with the weather service’s Sacramento branch.

Here's what forecasters say could be Northern California's 2026 historic March heat wave.

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How hot will it be in Redding?

A high pressure weather system, one that's hot and dry, is baking Northern California, Anderson said.

Daytime temperatures will reach the low to mid-90s through Thursday. Friday will be the hottest day, with a 94-degree peak in the afternoon, weather forecasters said.

Temperatures may cool down by the weekend, dropping into the 80s in the afternoons. However, forecasts are difficult to nail down that far out, Anderson said on Monday, March 16.

What motorists should know about driving I-5

Night temperatures drop around 60 degrees for motorists who hit the road early in the morning.

Expect temperatures to soar along Interstate 5 from Redding to Sacramento, and throughout the Central Valley, Anderson said.

Hottest times of day are usually late afternoon; high pressure systems often push the hot air down and bottle it into the north end of the valley around Redding, keeping evenings warm until sunset.

What is Redding’s all-time March heat record?

If temperatures reach 94 degrees this week they’ll shatter a heat record set 112 years ago, Anderson said.

At that time only about 3,000 people were living in the city to see the weather event, and Redding was a little over 26 years old, according to the city, which records its incorporation on Oct. 4, 1887.

Redding’s hottest March date on record was 93 degrees, set on March 17, 2014.

National Weather Service: March heat wave could pose risks

While the air is hot, waters are still cold and fast moving in places, Anderson said. People recreating at Lake Shasta, Whiskeytown and other North State waters should be careful before they take the plunge.

Hot weather this early also means people and animals haven’t had time to acclimate, Anderson said. That means they may feel the effects of heat more than they would if temperatures went up gradually.

People most at risk for the effects of heat are the elderly, young children and people with health issues, he said. For those without air conditioning, the Redding Library and other public spaces offer places to cool off during open afternoon hours. For information, go to shastacounty.gov/health-human-services/page/cooling-centers-and-heat-safety.

Pets are vulnerable, too, Anderson said. Bring them indoors and never leave them in a vehicle. The temperature in a vehicle can rise 19 degrees in 10 minutes, the American Veterinary Medicine Association reported.

Does hot March weather mean a bad fire season?

While the weather is hot and dry, plants haven’t dried out the way they do after months of dry weather and shouldn't burn as easily in March as they do in summer, Anderson said.

Also a hot dry March doesn’t necessarily mean the 2026 fire season will be worse than usual, he said. Redding and the Sacramento Valley could still get some cool wet weather this spring. “We’re just too far out to tell.”

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

Anyone who drives a car understands the sting of having to fill up their tank and pulling into the gas station, only to discover that gas prices have skyrocketed. Paying extra for gas means you have less to spend on other things, which, over time, can really put a crimp in your budget.

Cheap Insurance explored some of the reasons behind major changes in gas prices, and compiled a list of the cheapest gas stations in Redding using data from Gas Buddy.

Gas prices fluctuate based on several factors, including the cost of the key ingredient, crude oil, as well as the available supply and demand for gasoline. If the price of oil rises, a major refinery goes offline, or more drivers are hitting the road, for example, then the cost will increase.

In the first half of 2022, a unique confluence of events led to a surge in gas prices. The increased demand stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a slowdown in oil production all contributed to a national all-time high of $4.93 per gallon on average in June 2022.

Seasons also affect gas prices. Demand tends to drop in winter, but the cost also falls because gas stations switch to a different blend of gasoline that's optimal for lower temperatures—and has cheaper ingredients.

Location also matters. The South and Midwest tend to have the lowest gas prices, while the West, including Hawai'i, has the highest. Californians, in particular, pay more for gas on average than any other state. That's because of its high state excise taxes; its isolation from the country's major pipelines, which causes supply issues; and its requirements that mandate a more environmentally friendly blend of gas that costs more to produce and adds to the price per gallon.

No matter where you live, read on to see if you can get a deal on gas near you.

#1. Chevron- Address: 5001 Bechelli Ln, Redding, CA- Price: $4.49

#2. Star Gas- Address: 1650 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA- Price: $4.59

#2. Star Gas (tie)- Address: 765 E Cypress Ave, Redding, CA- Price: $4.59

#4. Costco- Address: 4805 Bechelli LN, Redding, CA- Price: $4.69

#4. Fast Stop Mini Mart #2 (tie)- Address: 3101 S Market St, Redding, CA- Price: $4.69

#4. Win-River Mini Mart (tie)- Address: 2415 S Bonnyview Rd, Redding, CA- Price: $4.69

#7. Fast Track- Address: 4746 Churn Creek Rd, Redding, CA- Price: $4.71

#7. Gas 4 Less (tie)- Address: 1409 Pine St, Redding, CA- Price: $4.71

#7. United Gas (tie)- Address: 732 N Market St, Redding, CA- Price: $4.71

#10. Maverik- Address: 2590 North St, Anderson, CA- Price: $4.79

Northern California wildflowers could bloom early this spring after rain soaked the ground and late winter temperatures reached the 70s, warming the wilderness around Redding.

Shasta County wildflowers create a carpet of yellow, blue, purple and orange after warm wet seasons and before hot weather arrives, master gardeners and park rangers said. That display may start in late spring or summer at higher altitudes, like the mountains in Siskiyou and Lassen counties after the snow melts. But down in the Sacramento Valley many wildflowers bloom earlier.

Statewide, some California wildflowers are already blooming early, state park officials said. "The desert landscape is beginning to burst with color in parks such as Anza-Borrego Desert and Red Rock Canyon, with additional parks expected to display vibrant blooms in the weeks and months ahead."

Park officials urged people to stay on trails and not risk damaging plants by stepping on them; and reminded guests it's against the law to pick wildflowers on state and federal park lands.

Here are some places near Redding to look for wildflower displays, and state parks where California rangers expect wildflowers to bloom big in 2026.

Where to see wildflower blooms near Redding

Sun-exposed spots in Shasta State Historic Park and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area are good places to start looking for spring wildflowers, with early flowers like manzanita often blooming in March.

Whiskeytown spokesman Scott Einberger's favorite spots to see wildflowers is the Crystal Creek Water Ditch Trail, he said, starting from "the beginning of Crystal Creek Road near Highway 299." Other good wildflower watch spots include patches along the Davis Gulch Trail. Start at the trailhead on Kennedy Memorial Drive, roughly a mile past Whiskeytown Dam, he said.

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Here are other good places in or near Redding to hike to see wildflowers.

Wildflowers already blooming in California

Some wildflowers are in full bloom by early March at some California parks, and “peak bloom season” in some desert regions begins as early as mid-February, depending on the area and weather, according to the California State Parks Department.

Many state parks had notable blooms in 2017, 2019, and 2023, “attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to view this natural phenomenon.” The kinds of blooms depends on the park and the timing, but "visitors may see sand verbena, desert poppies, primroses, desert sunflowers, and apricot mallow, among others," the state said.

Some California parks that got rain this year and are expecting moderate to strong wildflower blooms include:

You don't need to travel to Los Angeles to see the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in bloom from mid-March to May. It's still early, but soon you can check out poppies, fiddleneck and redstem filaree via the reserve's PoppyCam live feed.

Desert Palm reporter Daniella Segura contributed to this story.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.