Issued: 3:34 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2018
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 Saturday & Saturday

Snow levels slowly decreased on Saturday with light showers continuing along the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes. Skies are clearer down near Mt. Hood and east of the Cascade crest. 

The next low pressure system will track toward the central British Columbia coast tonight, spreading light rain and snow over the Olympics and north Cascades in the early morning hours of Sunday with westerly flow aloft.  Light precipitation will spread south over the Washington Cascades during the day on Sunday but largely miss Mt. Hood.  As a secondary shortwave digs southward from the parent NE Pacific upper level trough later Sunday, this should orient the frontal system more SW-NE Sunday afternoon and night and lead to a gradual warming trend over the region. 

Locally moderate precipitation on the volcanoes should stay mainly as snow during the daylight hours Sunday.  Light easterly flow will likely not be enough to help Snoqualmie Pass from warming above freezing Sunday afternoon with light snow transitioning to rain, but Stevens Pass will likely stay as snow for most or even all of the event.  Crystal mountain and areas along the east slopes of the Cascades will not get much precipitation from this storm. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers this morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers in the evening then light rain and snow developing late tonight.
Sunday Light rain and snow becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow mid-day. Warming trend.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers this morning decreasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Sunday Light rain and snow north Cascades spreading to the central and south Cascades in the morning. Becoming light to moderate rain and snow north of Stevens Pass mid-day through the afternoon. Slow warming trend.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers near the crest this morning ending mid-day.
Saturday Night Cloudy.
Sunday Light rain and snow northeast Cascades spreading to the central-east and southeast Cascades in the morning. Slow warming trend.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Partly cloudy.
Saturday Night Increasing clouds overnight.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 3000' 3500' ' ' 3000' ' 3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 4000' 2000' 2000' ' ' 3000' ' 4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level * 6000' 3500' 3500' ' ' 4500' ' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 5 - 15 S 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 --- - W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25 SE 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30 SE 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 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 Afternoon W 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 --- - WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 --- - W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 --- - SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 30 - 40 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night S 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night SSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night W 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Sunday Night SSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

With the frontal boundary splitting, the PNW will be in no-man's land on Monday with some partial clearing expected and temperatures remaining on the mild side. The associated longwave trough with the northern stream will push across the area Tuesday with increasing showers beginning Monday night.  A fast moving system in W-NW flow will take aim at the area on Wednesday with slightly lower snow levels but forecast models are in poor agreement on the axis of more moderate precipitation.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Monday Light showers ending in the morning with drying and clearing expected. Increasing clouds overnight with light rain and snow showers developing. Tuesday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers decreasing in the afternoon. Clouds increasing once again overnight with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Wednesday Light to moderate rain and snow. Cooler.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' 5000' - 6000' 6000' - 7000'
Monday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Monday Night Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'

* 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 6, 2018

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