Issued: 7:43 AM PST Wednesday, December 27, 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 Wednesday & Thursday

Weak warm frontal moisture will slip under the ridge located offshore at 130W, bringing some light rain and snow to the area today with moderate NW flow aloft. The PNW is centered between a warmer air mass to our south and a much colder air mass to the north and as a result, there is a tight N-S gradient for snow levels across the area with much warmer air over Mt. Hood and snow levels near sea level for much of the Washington Cascades  

A developing low offshore will renew warm frontal precipitation over the Olympics and north Cascades Thursday morning with precipitation spreading south during the daylight hours. An occluded front will pass through Thursday evening with a transition to showers overnight. Snow levels will gradually rise during the day on Thursday and also Thursday night. Easterly flow through the Passes should keep the precipitation type as snow during the day with a likely switch to rain for Snoqualmie in the evening and for Stevens after midnight. Mt. Hood looks mild with potentially heavy rain below 7000 feet Thursday night. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light snow.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Warming trend.
Thursday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Slow warming trend.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light snow.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow. Slight warming trend.
Thursday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest Mt. Rainier area. Slow warming trend.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light snow.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow.
Thursday Light rain and snow. Slow warming trend.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow increasing in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Light rain and snow decreasing after midnight.
Thursday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Warming trend. Increasing winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 1500' 0' 0' ' ' 500' ' 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level * 3000' 1500' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level * 4500' 2500' 1500' ' ' 3000' ' 5000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 3000' 2500' ' ' 3000' ' 5500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level * 5000' 3500' 3000' ' ' 3500' ' 7000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
7500'

* 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

Thursday Thursday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 - 1.00
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 - 0.50
Paradise LT 0.25 1.50 - 2.00
White Pass LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.50 2.00 - 3.00
0.50 - 0.75 2.50 - 3.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning WSW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 10 - 20 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15 WSW 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15 --- - WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 15 - 30 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 --- - SW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 15 - 30
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 15 - 30
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 30 - 40

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
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 --- - WSW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 --- - W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 --- - WSW 30 - 40
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 35 - 45 --- - WSW 50 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 30 - 40
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night WSW 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Thursday Night WSW 40 - 50
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night WSW 30 - 40
Thursday Morning SW 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon WSW 50 - 60
Thursday Night WSW 50 - 60

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 26, 2017

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