Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Wednesday
Cool snow levels with moist westerly flow aloft will help to continue to squeeze decent amounts of snowfall out of what is otherwise light to occasionally moderate showers in this pattern. Locally heavier showers have been seen from Snoqualmie Pass and south today with showers training in a SW-NE fashion. Showers and cloud cover should quickly decrease further east of the Cascade crest.
A fast moving low pressure system will curl off of Vancouver Island Friday night. Warm frontal precipitation will quickly move over the area Friday night with a strong occluded front passing through the Cascades mid morning and lifting NE late morning. Moderate snow should quickly turn to scattered showers by late morning with broken skies. in the south and central Cascades, snow levels will take a quick bump into the 3000-4000 ft range by late morning but should not rise further. Post-frontal westerlies will mix down stronger winds aloft in stronger gusts on Saturday. The north Cascades will see a delayed bump in snow levels and hang onto moderate showers into the afternoon as the surface low tracks into southern B.C.
Showers should taper off Saturday evening, but a strong warm front with a deeper moisture tap will spread generally light precipitation over the area once again Saturday night. A slow warming trend will take place overnight, most pronounced in the Mt. Hood region.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening becoming light to moderate snow after midnight. Increasing winds. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate snow early becoming partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers mid-morning. Slight warming trend. Windy. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers becoming light rain and snow after midnight. Warming trend. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest Snoqulamie Pass and south. Moderate crest-level winds central and south Cascades. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening becoming light snow after midnight except moderate Snoqualmie Pass and south. Increasing winds. |
| Saturday | Moderate snow early becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers mid-late morning. Showers occasionally moderate Mt. Baker area in the afternoon. Slight warming trend late morning onward. Windy. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers becoming light rain and snow after midnight. Slow warming trend. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Cloudy with light snow showers near the crest, decreasing clouds and showers further east . Moderate crest-level winds central and south Cascades. |
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the evening becoming light snow after midnight. Increasing winds. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate snow, becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers mid-day. Showers occasionally moderate northeast Cascades. Windy. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers becoming light rain and snow after midnight. Slow warming trend. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Windy. |
| Friday Night | Cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the evening becoming moderate snow after midnight. Increasing winds. |
| Saturday | Moderate snow early becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers mid morning. Slight warming trend late morning onward. Very windy. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, becoming light to moderate rain and snow late evening. Warming trend. |
Issued: 2:50 PM PST Friday, January 26, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level * | 3000' | 1000' | 500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 2000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
* 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 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 1.00 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
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: 2:50 PM PST Friday, January 26, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | S 15 - 30 | SW 25 - 45 | --- - | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 | SE 5 - 15 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 50 | --- - | SW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 50 - 60 | --- - | WSW 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 | W 40 - 50 | W 45 - 55 | --- - | W 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | W 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 55 | --- - | W 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | W 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | W 45 - 55 |
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: 2:50 PM PST Friday, January 26, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Warm frontal moisture will quickly push from south to north across the area Sunday morning, delivering a quick but moderate shot of precipitation. Snow will change to rain for west slopes of the Cascades in the morning, with cooler snow levels holding on through the afternoon for Stevens Pass and the east slopes of the Cascades. Despite the warmth, precipitation should quickly end for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area in the morning with some possible afternoon clearing as a strong upper level ridge shunts the moisture axis north. Precipitation will taper off more slowly for the central Cascades Sunday and stay trained on the NW Cascades in particular.
The frontal boundary will shift further north into southern B.C. Sunday night, and start to sag back south sometime later Monday afternoon and Monday night. As the front sags south heavier precipitation and a cooling trend will work back across the Cascades. An upper level trough in much cooler WNW flow aloft will bring us back to a snowy and showery pattern on Tuesday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | 6000' - 7000' | * |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 9500' - 10500' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 9000' - 10000' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | 7500' - 8500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 9500' - 10500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 9000' - 10000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' |
* 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 26, 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.