Issued: 7:28 AM PST Saturday, January 20, 2018
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Friday

A weakening open trough moved through the area on Friday and Friday night, bringing generally light new 24 hr snowfall accumulations in the form of showers to the west slopes of the Cascades, with the exception of heavier amounts at Mt. Baker (18 inches) and moderate amounts at Paradise and Snoqualmie Pass (8-10 inches).  Scattered showers should be lighter during the day on Saturday with only light additional accumulations as weak upper level ridging builds over the area late in the day.

A Pacific frontal system currently well offshore will spread warm frontal precipitation over the Olympics and later the northwest Cascades including Mt. Baker beginning this evening and overnight. The associated upper level trough will dig behind the front, orienting the frontal boundary in a N-S fashion Saturday night. The upshot will be precipitation will be slow to spread to the central and south Cascades Sunday morning. The occluded front will pass through the Cascades mid-afternoon but will weaken as it pushes inland. Locally heavy snowfall amounts are expected for the Mt. Baker area Saturday night through Sunday, with light to moderate amounts expected elsewhere.  Moderate to strong crest level winds are expected with this system on Sunday. 

Light post-frontal showers should continue Sunday night along with a slight cooling trend.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning becoming scattered light showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow developing and becoming occasionally moderate after midnight. Slight warming trend. Becoming windy.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Windy.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Light snow increasing to moderate north Cascades after midnight. Periods of light snow elsewhere.
Sunday Moderate to heavy snow Mt. Baker area. Light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate central and south Cascades in the afternoon. Moderate to strong crest level winds.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy central-east and southeast Cascades, mostly cloudy northeast Cascades with isolated light snow showers.
Sunday Light snow developing and becoming light to occasionally moderates in the afternoon. Moderate to strong crest level winds.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers this morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow showers tapering off overnight.
Sunday Light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate in the afternoon. Moderate to strong crest alpine winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 2000' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 3500' 2500' 1500' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level * 4000' 3000' 1500' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level * 3500' 2500' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'

* 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 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 - 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 1.00 1.50 - 2.00
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.75
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0 - 0.75
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0 - 1.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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 Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 --- - W 20 - 30
Saturday Night SSW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning S 50 - 65 S 25 - 35 SSW 40 - 50 --- - SW 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 40 - 50 SW 25 - 35 SW 45 - 55 --- - SW 50 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SSW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning S 50 - 65
Sunday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning S 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SSW 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 45 - 55
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 50 - 60
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40

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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Jan 17, 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.