Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Friday
Light snow showers are mainly affecting the west slopes of the Cascades, Olympics and Mt. Hood this afternoon as weak upper level ridging builds over the area.
A Pacific frontal system currently off the central British Columbia coast will spread warm frontal precipitation over the Olympics and later the northwest Cascades including Mt. Baker beginning this evening and continuing 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 south and into the central and south Cascades Sunday morning as eastward progression slows.
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 winds, especially at crest level, are expected with this system on Sunday. Snow levels will stay below 3000 feet in the north and central Cascades, peaking around 3500 ft for the southwest Cascades (White Pass, Crystal, Paradise) and 4000 feet for Mt. Hood early Sunday afternoon.
Light post-frontal showers should continue Sunday night along with a slight cooling trend.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Saturday Afternoon | Cloudy with scattered light showers. |
| 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. |
| Sunday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers tapering down overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Saturday Afternoon | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
| Saturday Night | Light snow increasing to moderate north Cascades after midnight. Periods of light snow central and south Cascades. |
| 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. |
| Sunday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Saturday Afternoon | Mostly cloudy with isolated 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 moderate in the afternoon. Moderate to strong crest level winds. |
| Sunday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Afternoon | Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| 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 alpine winds. |
| Sunday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
Issued: 2:36 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 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 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
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: 2:36 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 30 - 40 | SE 25 - 35 | ESE 20 - 35 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | SE 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | ESE 20 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | SE 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | ESE 20 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 - 40 | SSW 45 - 60 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | SW 55 - 65 |
| Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | S 25 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 45 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 55 - 65 |
| 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.
Issued: 2:36 PM PST Saturday, January 20, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Cool zonal westerly flow should keep the showers and clouds in the forecast for Monday, especially for the west slopes of the Cascades. Showers should decrease later in the afternoon and further Monday night as a transitory upper level ridge slides over the area. The break in the storm pattern should be short-lived as a fast moving and developing low pressure system off of Haida Gwaii (central BC coast) will quickly spread light rain and snow inland by Tuesday afternoon. The frontal boundary will become more north-south oriented over the area Tuesday night, but forecast models are in poor agreement whether or not heavier precipitation will develop over the area Wednesday. There is higher confidence that with the upper level ridge amplifying over the Intermountain west and the flow aloft turning more S-SW, a general warming trend is expected.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 3500' - 4500' | * |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 5000' - 6000' | * |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' (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 20, 2018
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