Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Tuesday
After our significant storm system on Thursday produced 1 to 2+ feet of snow in the Olympics and Washington Cascades, post-frontal rain and snow showers followed Friday with moderate westerly winds. Snow levels are hovering in the 4000-5000 ft range on Friday with no significant temperature trend expected. Showers should taper down in the afternoon.
Upper level ridging is attempting to build offshore today, but warm frontal clouds and precipitation slipping under the dirty ridge will quickly move over the area this afternoon and Friday night, keeping light precipitation ongoing overnight, especially for the Olympics and the west slopes of the Cascades. The upper level ridge axis will shift over the Cascades on Saturday and amplify, shunting clouds and light precipitation to our north. A clearing trend is expected on Saturday from south to north, with more afternoon sunshine expected for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades and more lingering cloud cover closer to the Canadian border and a mix in-between. Snow/freezing levels will rise rapidly on Saturday as a warmer air mass builds over the region.
The clearing trend will continue Saturday night with continued mild and dry conditions.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Cloudy with light rain and snow showers decreasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow. Warming trend. |
| Saturday | Cloudy with light rain and snow in the morning. Rain ending mid-day and becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Mild. |
| Saturday Night | Becoming mostly clear. Mild. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers decreasing in the afternoon. Moderate W-SW ridgetop winds. |
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow. |
| Saturday | Cloudy with light rain and snow in the morning, occasionally north and central Cascades. Rain ending mid-day with clearing skies south and central Cascades and becoming mostly cloudy north Cascades in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
| Saturday Night | Becoming mostly clear. Mild. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Cloudy with light rain and snow showers decreasing in the afternoon. Moderate W-SW ridgetop winds. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. |
| Saturday | Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning. Rain ending late morning with clearing skies southeast and central-east Cascades and becoming partly to mostly cloudy northeast Cascades in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
| Saturday Night | Becoming mostly clear. Mild. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers decreasing in the afternoon. Winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Warming trend. |
| Saturday | Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the morning, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Mild. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. |
Issued: 5:22 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 6000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 7500' | 5500' | 5000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 10000' | 8500' | 7500' | ' | ' | 10000' | ' | 11000' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level * | 10500' | 10000' | 7000' | ' | ' | 9000' | ' | 11000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 11000' (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
| Tuesday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 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: 5:22 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 | S 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
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 Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | --- - | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
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: 5:22 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
The high amplitude upper level ridge over the area will shift into eastern Washington/Idaho on Sunday. An weak frontal boundary well offshore will not reach the area, leaving the Pacific Northwest with sunny and mild conditions for mid-January with the caveat of somewhat muted temperatures in the Passes due to moderate offshore easterly flow.
A north-south oriented frontal boundary should reach the coast on Monday morning but struggle to push inland during the day. Light rain and snow should eventually move inland to the Cascades Monday afternoon or night. The main upper level trough axis should swing through on Tuesday, although forecast models are not in good agreement regarding this feature.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 10500' - 11500' | 10500' - 11500' | 11000' - 12000' | * |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 9500' - 10500' | 9500' - 10500' | 10000' - 11000' | * |
| Monday | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | * |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 4500' - 5500' | 6500' - 7500' | * |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 11000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
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 12, 2018
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.
5 PM Update: Increased Day 1 Precipitation Forecast for Mt. Baker.