Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Friday
A shortwave trough follows in the wake of a weakening cold front, bringing moist SW flow, narrow bands of light to moderate rain, and a cooler air mass to our region on Tuesday. The trough will lift north during the day on Tuesday, cutting off moisture from south to north. Showers will linger in the Olympics and NW Cascades through the afternoon and evening hours.
Well offshore, an open low will be closing off and ejecting toward the central coast of British Columbia on Tuesday and Wednesday. More locally, Tuesday night will feature a break in the action and light SE winds ahead of this storm system.
On Wednesday, the warm front will lift northward during the morning hours, bringing light precipitation, but a big warm-up during the late morning at the tail end of the precipitation. Pass level easterlies should insulate the passes from the warming until the late morning hours. Wednesday afternoon the frontal rain band will move over the Olympics and progresses eastward across the Cascades during the late afternoon/early evening hours bringing moderate to heavy rain to most areas with high elevation snow. Areas exposed to southerly winds will receive moderate to strong crest-level winds prior to frontal passage in the Cascades around midnight. Moderate SW flow follows the frontal passage.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Tuesday | Decreasing rain and snow showers, in isolated moderate rain bands. |
| Tuesday Night | Fair with high clouds increasing. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow developing, becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night | Moderate rain and snow showers becoming light and more isolated. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy skies in the north and mostly sunny skies in the south. Decreasing isolated moderate intensity rain bands, most sustained Mt. Baker area. |
| Tuesday Night | Light rain and snow showers ending in the evening hours in the north. Low clouds lingering in the evening hours, becoming mostly clear after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow developing, mainly from Mt. Rainier northward. The light rain and snow lingers in the north in the afternoon while the south sees mostly cloudy skies. Another round of rain and snow arrives very late in the day. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing moderate to heavy rain in the evening hours. Light to moderate rain and snow showers after midnight. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday | Light rain and snow showers ending in the north. Partly sunny skies in the north, mostly sunny skies in the south. |
| Tuesday Night | Partly cloudy in the evening hours, becoming mostly clear after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow developing in the central and northern parts during the mid-day hours. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing moderate rain in the evening hours. Light to moderate rain and snow showers after midnight. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday | Partly sunny skies with isolated light to moderate rain bands. |
| Tuesday Night | Mostly clear with increasing high clouds after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy. |
| Wednesday Night | Moderate rain, occasionally heavy. |
Issued: 4:00 PM PST Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level * | 8000' | 4500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 6000' | 6000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level * | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | 2.50 - 3.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
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: 4:00 PM PST Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SE 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 30 - 40 | SE 25 - 35 | ESE 20 - 30 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 | SE 40 - 60 | ESE 20 - 30 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 | S 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 | SSW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 | SSW 40 - 60 | SSW 40 - 60 | --- - | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 60 - 80 | SSW 50 - 70 | SSW 65 - 85 | --- - | SSW 60 - 80 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 | --- - | SW 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 60 - 80 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 65 - 85 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 60 - 80 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 50 - 70 |
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: 4:00 PM PST Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Following Wednesday night's frontal passage a deep trough digs in on Thursday through Saturday. Some energy drops south of the forecast area, but a consistent moist and cold generally SW flow spinning around a low off the NW tip of Vancouver Island Thursday through Saturday will bring significant and consistent snow to the Cascades under generally low snow levels.
The low will spawn a surface feature that should swing through on Saturday provided some precipitation enhancement under continued low snow levels.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
* 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 16, 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.