Issued: 2:16 PM PST Monday, January 30, 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 Monday & Saturday

Broken skies this morning have become more solidly overcast this afternoon as mid and high level clouds stream over the area in brisk westerly flow aloft. After a period of mild freezing/snow levels seen over the last several days, a significant cool down will begin tonight for the north Cascades and Olympics, eventually affecting the entire range as strong surface high pressure in northern B.C. begins to slide south pushing arctic air into eastern Washington and Oregon over the short term. Light snow may develop along a baroclinc band over the S WA/N OR border overnight, mainly affecting the south and central Washington Cascades through Tuesday afternoon. Alpine winds will decrease over the north Washington Cascades today but remain elevated over Mt. Hood. Offshore flow and east winds will begin to ramp up Tuesday night as the aforementioned high pressure builds east of the crest. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Monday

Mostly cloudy this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. 

Monday Night - Tuesday Morning

Mostly cloudy. Turning colder. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Mostly sunny except partly cloudy north slopes of the Olympics. 

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

Mostly cloudy this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of very light rain or snow showers. 

Monday Night - Tuesday Morning

Mostly cloudy north Cascades. Cloudy south and central Cascades with scattered light snow showers. Turning colder. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Mostly sunny north Cascades. Partly sunny central and south Cascades with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. Continued cooling trend. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday

Mostly cloudy this morning with increasing high and mid clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of very light rain or snow showers. 

Monday Night - Tuesday Morning

Mostly cloudy northeast Cascades with scattered light snow showers.  Cloudy southeast and central-east Cascades with light snow showers. Turning colder. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Mostly sunny northeast Cascades. Partly to mostly cloudy central-east and southeast Cascades with scattered light snow showers. Continued cooling trend. 

Mt. Hood Area
Monday

Mostly cloudy this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of very light rain or snow showers. Mild.

Monday Night

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers.  

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level 4000' 3500' 2000' ' ' 4000' ' 7000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level 500' 500' 0' ' ' 1000' ' 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level * 500' 0' 0' ' ' 500' ' 1500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(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

Saturday Saturday
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 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.25 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
Monday W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10 NE 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 --- - W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 --- - E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ENE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ENE 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ENE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ENE 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday W 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15

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
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 --- - W 35 - 45
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 W 20 - 30 --- - W 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon NE 5 - 15 NE 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 --- - W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night NE 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night NE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning W 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

Arctic air will make a brief re-appearance during the middle of the week. Moisture supplied by an upper level low well off the California coast should override the dry arctic air mass inland creating a sharp E-W boundary of light snow and cloud cover that oscillates around the Oregon and Washington border Wednesday and Thursday, mainly affecting Mt. Hood. Clearer conditions should be found over the Olympics and central and north Washington Cascades with moderate east winds at Pass and crest level . The upper low off the California coast should meander closer to the coast and turn the flow aloft more southwesterly Thursday night, rotating showers up from the south and beginnng the process of moderating the air mass over the region. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Wednesday - Thursday

Cold. Mostly clear Olympics and north and central Cascades. Partly to mostly cloudy south Washington Cascades with period of light snow. Cloudy Mt. Hood with occasional light snow.  Moderate east winds mainly central and south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. 

Thursday Night - Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Slow warming trend. 

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 30, 2017

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