Issued: 2:30 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Thursday

A weakening cold upper trough digs south behind a north-south-oriented cold front. The front has moved east of the Cascade crest from the central Cascades northward, but is still over the south Cascades and Hood areas at 2PM on Sunday, bringing moderate precipitation and strong southerly wind with it. Behind the front, open cellular convection is bringing continued moderate to occasional heavy snow showers to the Northwest Cascades and Olympics on a SW flow with lighter amounts elsewhere. 

Sunday night the shallow trough settles in over the Pacific Northwest bringing continued light to occasional moderate to heavier showers to locations favored in the W-SW flow.

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 showers.
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 Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest North Cascades.
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 Light snow showers, heaviest near the crest and north.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

Thursday Thursday
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 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 0.75 0 - 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.75 - 1.00 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 - 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
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 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 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 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 Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
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 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 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 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 Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
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 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 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 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 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 Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

On Tuesday, a low pressure will move to the west of Vancouver Island and then track north along the coast. The associated front arrives in a bow-shape with a broad precipitation shield. It works its way SE during the day, but stalls in the south Cascades and Hood areas through the overnight hours on Tuesday. 

A second upper and surface low within the broader trough move into the coastal waters Wednesday afternoon and generally lingers with slight northward progression Wednesday night bringing a cool SW flow with bands of precipitation spiraling around it.

On Thursday, the Pacific Northwest sits squarely in the broad trough with the upper level and surface low progressing onshore into British Columbia, bringing cool westerly flow to our region and mountain snows.

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning. Rain and snow becoming light to moderate Olympics and North Cascades, but maintaining intensity central/south Cascades and Hood. Rain and snow becomes light to moderate Tuesday night and slightly more showery. Wednesday Light to moderate rain and snow on SW flow. Bands of heavier precipitation with some breaks. Occasional light to moderate snow Wednesday night. Thursday Moderate mountain-enhanced snow on a westerly flow during the day Thursday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Snow Level 0' - 2000' 2000' - 4000' 3000' - 5000' *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 1000' - 3000' 1000' - 3000' 4000' - 6000' *
Wednesday Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 4500' 3000' - 5000' *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 0' - 2000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
0' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
0' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
2000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(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 21, 2018

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