Issued: 7:50 AM PST Sunday, January 21, 2018
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Wednesday

An upper level low off the coast of British Columbia will drift north on Sunday while the associated cold upper trough digs south behind a north-south-oriented cold front. The front should cross the Cascade crest early to mid-afternoon on Sunday, bringing moderate winds at crest level with strong gusts mixing down from significant momentum aloft. Modest warming is currently being observed in advance of the front, but easterly winds are keeping the passes and crest colder. Frontal passage should be between 2-4 PM and precipitation should remain snow at Snoqualmie. Mt. Baker has seen significant precipitation with another 15" overnight. More moderate to heavy snow is in the forecast for the Northwest Cascades. Note that as of Sunday morning the Camano Island radar is down.

Behind the front, winds shift to the SW and we enter a cool and showery regime late Sunday afternoon and Sunday night as the shallow trough settles in over the Pacific Northwest.

Showers decrease and generally end during the day on Monday as a weak ridge develops.

Another system enters our coastal waters Monday night.

 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday Moderate rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Winds are moderate to strong out of the south, turning to the SW.
Sunday Night Light snow showers.
Monday Light snow showers, decreasing or ending in the afternoon.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Sunday Moderate rain and snow through the early afternoon hours with heavier intensities expected near Mt. Rainier and particularly Mt. Baker. Later in the afternoon, precipitation becomes light to moderate showers. Moderate, gusty SE crest-level winds becoming moderate SW by late afternoon.
Sunday Night Light snow showers, with occasionally moderate near the volcanoes.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers in the morning, decreasing in the afternoon. Heaviest near Mt. Rainier.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday Moderate rain and snow through the early afternoon hours. Later in the afternoon, precipitation becomes light showers. Moderate, gusty SE crest-level winds becoming moderate SW by late afternoon.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers.
Monday Light to moderate snow showers in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate to strong crest-level winds.
Sunday Night Light rain and snow showers, becoming moderate close to morning.
Monday Light to occasional moderate snow showers.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning Snow Level * 4000' 3000' 1500' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level * 3000' 2500' 2500' ' ' 3000' ' 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Monday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' ' ' 2500' ' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
(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

Wednesday Wednesday
Hurricane Ridge 0 - 1.00 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 2.00 - 2.50 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.75 - 1.00 0 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.75 - 1.00 LT 0.25
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning S 35 - 45 SE 25 - 35 SE 15 - 30 --- - S 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35 SSW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30 SSW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 --- - WSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning S 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning SE 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning SE 15 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning S 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning S 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SE 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SE 15 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning S 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15

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
Sunday Morning SSW 50 - 70 SSW 60 - 80 SSW 60 - 80 --- - SW 60 - 80
Sunday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50 SSW 35 - 50 SW 35 - 50 --- - SW 45 - 65
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 35 - 50
Monday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 WSW 35 - 50 --- - WSW 35 - 50
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 30 - 40 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 50 - 70
Sunday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40
Monday Morning SW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Monday Night SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 60 - 80
Sunday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40
Monday Morning SW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Monday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 60 - 80
Sunday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Sunday Night SW 30 - 40
Monday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Monday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Monday Night SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 60 - 80
Sunday Afternoon SW 45 - 65
Sunday Night SW 35 - 50
Monday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Monday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Monday Night SW 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.

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

Previous forecast from Jan 20, 2018

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