Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Friday
A weak and weakening warm frontal feature lifting northward this afternoon is bringing very light showers to the Olympics, central, and north Cascades this afternoon.
Tonight, a stronger upper trough and low pressure center will be approaching our coastal waters with a warm front moving over the Olympics and and southern Cascades in the early morning hours.
On Thursday a low tracking toward Northwest Washington or southern Vancouver Island will be accompanied by a strong warm front followed by a cold front. The system will bring very stormy weather with strong to very strong shifting alpine winds and moderate to heavy rain and snow and rising freezing levels. Expect snow in the passes tonight into tomorrow morning with Snoqualmie pass changing to rain in the early to mid afternoon and Stevens pass possibly changing to rain at this time before an eventual return to all snow at Stevens Pass in the evening hours as rain and snow showers decrease overnight.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Wednesday | Decreasing light rain or snow showers this afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing light rain and snow. |
| Thursday | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow becoming showery in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow showers ending. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Wednesday | Cloudy with some light rain and snow showers, particularly in the central and north Cascades. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing light rain and snow in the north; increasing light rain and snow becoming moderate in the central and south. |
| Thursday | Very stormy. Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Heaviest Mt. Rainier. |
| Thursday Night | Moderate showers decreasing by morning. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday | Partly cloudy with occasional very light rain or snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing light rain and snow in the north; increasing light rain and snow becoming moderate in the central and south. |
| Thursday | Very stormy. Moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate showers decreasing by morning. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy with occasional light rain and snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday | Moderate to heavy rain and snow. |
| Thursday Night | Light rain and snow showers decreasing by morning. |
Issued: 2:38 PM PST Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3500' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 3000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 2.00 - 2.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 2.50 - 3.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.75 | 3.00 - 4.00 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 2.00 |
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: 2:38 PM PST Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 | SE 5 - 15 | S 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 | E 10 - 20 | ESE 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 40 - 60 | --- - | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 45 | --- - | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 | S 30 - 40 | WSW 55 - 75 | --- - | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 50 - 70 | --- - | WSW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 45 - 65 | --- - | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 45 - 65 |
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.
Issued: 2:38 PM PST Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
On Friday, post-frontal westerly flow is quickly cutoff as a ridge redevelops in the near surface waters. Westerly flow will decrease along with the shower activity on Friday. Snow levels will begin rising sharply in the Hood region on Friday night.
A warm front riding over the top of the ridge will bring light rain and snow to the Olympics and Northwest Cascades along with further significant warming in all areas.
Saturday night and Sunday will feature mostly fair and dry as the ridge hangs on over us.
Of note: a more favorable wintertime weather pattern appears to be in the prospects for the middle of next week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 5000' | 6500' - 8500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 6000' - 8000' | 7000' - 9000' | 8000' - 10000' | * |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 10000' - 12000' | 10000' - 12000' | 10000' - 12000' | * |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 10000' - 12000' | 10000' - 12000' | 10000' - 12000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 6000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 7000' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 8500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 8000' - 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 10000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 12000' (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.
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 10, 2018
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