Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday
An upper level shortwave upstream in NW flow aloft is causing cloudy conditions with periods of light snow mainly for the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades including the Passes. Recent moderate NW winds in the alpine should relax over the Washington Cascades this afternoon but stay moderate over Mt. Hood. Light snowfall will shift further south during the afternoon, becoming occasionally moderate over the Mt. Hood region and far south Washington Cascades Friday night. A clearing trend is expected in the north Cascades Friday afternoon. Snow/freezing levels will be quite cool Friday and Saturday.
Upper level ridging will temporarily build over the area on Saturday with continued NW flow aloft. Mostly clear conditions are expected along the west slopes of the Cascades on Saturday with some low clouds along the east slopes of the Cascades and near the Passes. However, strong high pressure sliding south through British Columbia will increase offshore gradients, with moderate easterly winds expected Saturday afternoon and night. An approaching Pacific frontal system will spread clouds into the region Saturday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Periods of light snow tapering off mid-day. Partial clearing trend expected in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Partly to mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Mostly clear. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing clouds. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | Periods of light snow shifting from north to south during the day. Clearing trend expected in the north in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear north. Partly cloudy south. |
| Saturday | Mostly clear except areas of low clouds Cascade Passes. Locally breezy east winds Cascade Passes in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing clouds. Locally breezy east winds Cascade Passes. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Periods of light snow, mainly near the Cascade crest, shifting from north to south during the day. Clearing trend expected in the north in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear north. Partly cloudy south. |
| Saturday | Mostly clear except areas of low clouds lower slopes. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing clouds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Cloudy with periods of light snow later in the morning, increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow. |
| Saturday | Light snow in the morning ending with partial clearing expected in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | Increasing clouds. |
Issued: 7:36 AM PST Friday, December 22, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 0' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 2500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 0' | ' | 2000' |
| Saturday Morning | Freezing Level * | 0' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 0' | ' | 0' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 1500' | 500' | 0' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 1000' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level * | 2500' | 1000' | 0' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 2500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
* 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 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.75 | 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: 7:36 AM PST Friday, December 22, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | NE 5 - 15 | NW 0 - 10 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NE 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | E 10 - 20 | ENE 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 5 - 15 | ENE 0 - 10 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | ENE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 35 | --- - | NW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 | NW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | N 10 - 20 | NNW 10 - 20 | NNW 10 - 20 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | N 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 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 Dec 18, 2017
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