Issued: 7:16 AM PST Saturday, January 14, 2017
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Wednesday

The Pacific Northwest will continue in a benign weather pattern through the weekend. Free air freezing levels have jumped into the 6000-8000 foot range west of the Cascades. However strong temperature inversions and cold easterly flow have made for some interesting differences in temperatures throughout the range. The top of Alpental was over 20F warmer than the base this morning! Little change in freezing levels is expected today but skies should be mostly sunny. East winds will be breezy in the Passes today. 

A weak front offshore will split as it reaches the Washington Coast tonight but it should spread high clouds over the region through Sunday morning. Another mostly sunny afternoon is expected on Sunday. Temperature inversions will persist but the air mass over the Cascades including Mt. Hood will continue to moderate. 

Expect a transition to a stormier and milder weather pattern starting Monday evening and extending through the middle of next week. 

Weather Forecast

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Saturday

Mostly sunny. Moderating temperatures except colder with strong temperature inversions sheltered valleys and near Cascade Passes. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds. 

Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny. Milder except colder with temperature inversions sheltered valleys and near Cascade Passes. 

Olympics
Saturday

Mostly sunny. Moderating temperatures except colder with strong temperature inversions sheltered valleys.

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds. 

Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday

Mostly sunny. Moderating temperatures except colder with strong temperature inversions lower mountain. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds. 

Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny. Milder. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday

Mostly sunny except areas of low clouds lower slopes and valleys. Moderating temperatures in the alpine. Colder with strong temperature inversions lower slopes. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds. 

Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny except areas of low clouds lower slopes and valleys. Moderating temperatures but continued colder temperatures with strong temperature inversions lower slopes. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Freezing Level * 6500' 5000' 1000' ' ' 4500' ' 2500'
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level * 6000' 4000' 2000' ' ' 4500' ' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)

* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.

Precipitation Forecast

Wednesday Wednesday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday - Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 --- - SE 5 - 15
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Evening SE 5 - 15
Saturday Night - Sunday VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday - Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday - Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday - Saturday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night - Sunday W 0 - 10
Sunday Night SW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday - Saturday Evening SE 5 - 15
Saturday Night - Sunday VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10

Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 --- - W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday W 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday - Sunday Night WNW 15 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Sunday - Sunday Night NW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday - Sunday Night NW 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday - Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday - Sunday Night NW 15 - 25

Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Jan 10, 2017

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