Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
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. It's a balmy 40F at Paradise this afternoon while the Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes are stuck in the teens. 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
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. |
| Sunday Night |
Becoming partly cloudy with increasing high clouds overnight. |
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. |
| Sunday Night |
Becoming partly cloudy with increasing high clouds overnight. |
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. |
| Sunday Night |
Becoming partly cloudy with increasing high clouds overnight. |
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. |
| Sunday Night |
Becoming partly cloudy with increasing high clouds overnight. |
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2017
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 Afternoon - Sunday Night | Freezing Level * | 7000' | 4500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 4000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (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 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2017
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 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | W 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 |
| Sunday | WNW 15 - 30 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 30 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | NW 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | WNW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | NW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | NW 20 - 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 | NW 15 - 25 |
| 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.
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
An atmospheric river will deliver a period of milder and wet weather starting Monday afternoon or night and continuing through Wednesday. Forecast models are in poor agreement whether precipitation will really get going Monday afternoon or hold off until Monday night. Either way a strong warming trend should begin Monday night with milder Pacific air even working into the east slopes of the Cascades on Tuesday. There will likely be a messy transition period from snow to rain Monday night and Tuesday morning for the Cascades Passes and east slopes of the Cascades which may include freezing rain. Precipitation looks to be mostly aimed into B.C. and Washington with much lighter precipitation expected for Mt. Hood during this stretch.
Several waves of moisture will impact the area through Tuesday night. There seems to be decent agreement that the associated frontal band will sag south sometime on Wednesday and begin to usher in some relatively cooler air.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Mostly cloudy. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing Olympics and northwest Cascades mid-day.
Becoming stormy with increasing moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics. Warming trend. Light rain and snow Mt. Hood.
Stormy with periods of heavy rain and snow. Warming trend including east slopes. Mixed precipitation possible lower east slopes Tuesday morning. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow Mt. Hood.
Moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy west slopes, transitioning to moderate showers. Cooling trend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 5000' - 6000' | 7500' - 8500' | * |
| Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7500' | 6500' - 7500' | * |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night - Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night - Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night - Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
* 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Jan 14, 2017
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