Issued: 5:49 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2018
by Robert Hahn

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 & Friday

A northward-lifting frontal zone connecting weak weather systems lifted north overnight and into the early morning hours, leaving the Pacific Northwest with a relatively nice day under high clouds and filtered sunlight gradually giving way to thickening clouds. To the west, an elongated trough is gradually approaching our coastal waters. 

Tonight, the trough splits. The northern branch comprises a shortwave trough and a weakening frontal zone. The trough should arrive over the Pacific Northwest late monday night. Most of the energy from the elongated trough takes a southerly track, spawning a cutoff low which should move into the California coastal waters.

On Tuesday, light to moderate onshore flow should continue shower activity on a westerly flow, particularly west of the Cascade crest with convergence bands developing and focused from Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass. Onshore flow and shower activity continue Tuesday night.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Monday Occasional light rain and snow.
Monday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Tuesday Increasing light showers.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Monday Mostly cloudy. Occasional very light showers.
Monday Night Increasing light rain or snow mainly after midnight.
Tuesday Light rain or snow showers, generally decreasing in intensity, but heaviest in convergence in the Stevens to Snoqualmie area in the late afternoon.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday Mostly cloudy cloudy. Occasional very light showers.
Monday Night Increasing light rain and freezing rain at lower elevations with snow at higher elevations.
Tuesday Decreasing light rain and snow showers, particularly higher elevations.
Mt. Hood
Monday Mostly cloudy cloudy. Occasional very light showers.
Monday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Tuesday 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 Snow Level * 4000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4500' ' 6500'
Monday Night Snow Level * 3500' 3500' 3000' ' ' 4000' ' 6000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 3000' 3000' 3500' ' ' 3000' ' 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25 SSE 15 - 25 SSE 10 - 20 --- - SSE 10 - 20
Monday Night SSE 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25 SSE 15 - 25 --- - SSE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 --- - WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Monday Night SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Monday Night SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Monday Night SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Monday Night SSE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Monday Night SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Monday Night SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Monday Night SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Monday Night SSE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30

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 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 30 - 40 --- - SSW 25 - 35
Monday Night SSW 35 - 45 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 --- - W 40 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Monday Night SSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Tuesday Night W 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Monday Night SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Monday Night SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Morning SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Monday Night SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Morning SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon W 40 - 60
Tuesday Night W 40 - 60

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

On Wednesday, cool, moist WNW flow continues through the day with an increase in precipitation late Wednesday as warm frontal features begin arriving ahead of a stronger storm slated to arrive on Thursday.

On Thursday, a developing storm arrives from the west with a strong warm front crossing the forecast area in the early morning hours on Thursday. Very stormy weather with elevated freezing levels should be seen until the cold frontal passage mid-day. Moderate to strong WSW should continue after the storm passes with a drying trend as another large ridge of high pressure begins building into the Pacific Northwest on Friday. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday An ill-defined warm-frontal feature will bring increasing precipitation on Wednesday with light snow becoming moderate in the afternoon on a warming trend. There will be a brief shift to southerly or SE flow, with W-SW and lingering light rain and snow showers behind the feature. Thursday Thursday will feature stormy weather with moderate to heavy rain and snow and strong, shifting alpine winds. Thursday night, flow turns westerly and with light to moderate rain and snow showers. Friday On Friday, light rain and snow showers decrease or ends as a ridge begins to build into the coastal waters.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1000' - 2500' 2000' - 4000' *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 4500' - 5500'
Thursday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 4500' - 5500' *
Thursday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 4500' - 5500' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Friday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Friday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'

* 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 8, 2018

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