Issued: 2:22 PM PST Thursday, January 26, 2017
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Tuesday

An upper level ridge currently centered offshore will slowly slide east toward the coast and inland over the next few days. Weak lift in northerly flow was still producing a few isolated showers this morning. The stratus deck over the region should begin to break up this afternoon, but a subsidence inversion due to high pressure building aloft over the area will likely trap moisture below crest level. A cloudy morning transitioning to mostly cloudy skies with afternoon sunbreaks seems likely. The upper portion of the volcanoes will likely be above the cloud deck. 

A slow warming trend will begin today and continue on Friday. High clouds from warm frontal moisture directed into central British Columbia should move over the region on Friday, with decreasing cloud cover over the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood.  The upper level ridge should amplify over the coast during the day on Friday, deflecting the storm track further north.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night

Partly to mostly cloudy. 

Friday

Mostly cloudy north Cascades and Olympics with high clouds. Partly to mostly sunny south and central Cascades with periods of high clouds. Milder.

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night

Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy with low clouds along the lower east slopes. 

Friday

Partly to mostly cloudy northeast Cascades with high clouds. Partly to mostly sunny southeast and central-east Cascades with periods of high clouds. Areas of low clouds lower east slopes. Milder.

Mt. Hood Area
Thursday Afternoon

Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks. 

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy. 

Friday

Mostly sunny with periods of high clouds mainly in the morning. Milder.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level 4500' 4000' 3000' ' ' 4000' ' 4500'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level 4000' 3000' 1500' ' ' 2500' ' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(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

Tuesday Tuesday
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
Thursday - Thursday Night SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday - Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday - Thursday Night --- -
Friday - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday - Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday - Thursday Night --- -
Friday - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday - Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night VAR 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
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 --- - N 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 --- - W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night - Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night NW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

The upper level ridge will amplify over the region on Saturday, pushing the storm track north with a mostly sunny and mild January day on tap. However, offshore flow should create locally cooler conditions near the Cascade Passes and down at Mt. Hood for areas exposed to east winds. We aren't pulling arctic air over from eastern Washington and Oregon, so temperature inversions should not be as steep as seen earlier this month. 

A weak frontal system coming down from the NW should reach the Olympics and Cascades Sunday aftenroon with increasing clouds elsewhere.  Winds should increase Sunday in advance of this system. The frontal system does not look like a wet system and blows through quickly Sunday night with scattered showers and lower snow levels for Monday.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Saturday

Mostly sunny and mild. Cooler Cascade Passes and Mt. Hood in areas exposed to east winds. 

Saturday Night

Mostly clear. 

Sunday

Increasing clouds Olympics and north Cascades with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon.  Partly to mostly cloudy south Washington Cascades and mostly sunny Mt. Hood.  Winds increasing in the afternoon.  

Sunday Night - Monday

Light rain and snow overnight becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers Monday. Cooling trend.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday - Sunday Morning Freezing Level 7000' - 8000' 7500' - 8500' 8500' - 9500' *
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level 4500' - 5500' 4000' - 5000' 6000' - 7000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Monday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7500' - 8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Monday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'

* 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 26, 2017

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