Issued: 7:14 AM PST Thursday, January 25, 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 Thursday & Sunday

A cold upper level low positioned along the west coast of British Columbia will rotate two troughs through the region over the next 24 hours. The first one will lift through this afternoon, somewhat invigorating showers in the afternoon. The second one will pass through tonight with light additional snowfall continuing, especially along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.  Some of the coldest air seen in some time will keep snow levels low throughout the short term.  

The flow aloft will become zonal (westerly) on Friday as orographic showers take over and continue to favor the west slopes of the Cascades. Crest-level westerlies will stay moderate from this afternoon through Friday night. A fast moving low pressure system will approach the Pacific Northwest Friday night, with showers seamlessly transitioning to steady snow and becoming moderate for Mt. Hood and the south and central Cascades after midnight.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Thursday Cloudy with light snow showers becoming scattered in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light snow showers.
Friday Light snow showers.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Thursday Increasing clouds during the day. Isolated snow showers in the morning becoming widespread light snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate crest level winds.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate crest level winds.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday Partly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Isolated snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light snow showers with decreasing clouds and shower activity further east of the crest. Moderate crest level winds.
Friday Light snow showers with decreasing clouds and shower activity further east of the crest. Moderate crest level winds.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate alpine winds.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Moderate alpine winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning Snow Level 1000' 500' 500' ' ' 1000' ' 1000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' ' ' 1500' ' 2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 500' 500' 0' ' ' 500' ' 1500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 500' 500' 0' ' ' 500' ' 1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' ' ' 1500' ' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15 SE 0 - 10 SE 10 - 20 --- - SSW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SW 15 - 25 --- - SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SW 15 - 25 --- - SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 30 --- - SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SW 15 - 25 --- - SW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Friday Night SE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning SE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 15 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Friday Night SE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 15 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SSW 10 - 20

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
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 --- - SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 30 - 40 --- - SW 30 - 40
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 30 - 40 --- - WSW 35 - 45
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40 --- - WSW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40 --- - SW 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Thursday Night WSW 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Thursday Night WSW 35 - 45
Friday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 35 - 50

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 23, 2018

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