Issued: 8:27 AM PST Sunday, January 28, 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 & Tuesday

The roller-coaster ride continues in the Pacific Northwest this season. A deep upper and surface low in the Gulf of Alaska has spawned a frontal system that is tapping into subtropical moisture and temperatures. 

On Sunday morning, the warm front is lifting over northern Washington, bringing significant warming and some precipitation with many areas changing from snow to rain with freezing rain in deeper valleys. The warm front will stall late Sunday morning through Sunday night upon reaching the Canadian border. 

A cold front to our west is sending the bulk of the subtropical moisture and precipitation north toward Vancouver Island and the BC coast on Sunday. This front will begin to move south and east, impacting the Olympics and NW Washington Cascades after midnight bringing heavy rain and high elevation snow with it.

On Monday, The cold front continues to slowly sag southeast across Washington and into northern Oregon by Monday evening, bringing with it moderate to heavy precipitation and moderate to strong crest-level S-SW winds. The front will also bring significant cooling as it passes and by late Monday night, a return to more seasonal temperatures with some post-frontal rain and snow showers on a W-SW flow.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday Intermittent light rain and high elevation snow. Moderate to occasional strong S-SW ridge-top winds.
Sunday Night Increasing moderate rain and snow, particularly after midnight. Moderate S-SW winds.
Monday Light to occasional moderate rain. Moderate to occasional strong S-SW winds.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow, increasing in the north Cascades and decreasing in the central Cascades, becoming light showers. Decreasing light showers south Cascades. Significant warming everywhere with moderate S-SE winds becoming S-SW.
Sunday Night Increasing moderate to occasional heavy rain north Cascades, mostly after midnight. Cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening toward morning.
Monday Moderate to heavy rain and high elevation snow spreading throughout the west slopes by late morning and increasing in the afternoon.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, increasing in the north Cascades and decreasing in the central Cascades, becoming light showers. Freezing rain likely in deep valleys. Decreasing and isolated light showers south Cascades with partial clearing in the afternoon. Significant warming everywhere with moderate S-SE winds becoming S-SW.
Sunday Night Increasing light to moderate rain and high elevation snow north Cascades, mostly after midnight. Cloudy with clouds lowering and thickening toward morning.
Monday Moderate to heavy rain and high elevation snow spreading throughout the west slopes by late morning and increasing in the afternoon.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Decreasing light showers.
Sunday Night Cloudy.
Monday Cloudy with light rain developing by evening. Increasing strong S-SW alpine winds.

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 * 6500' 5000' 3500' ' ' 5500' ' 7500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 7500' 5500' 5000' ' ' 7000' ' 8500'
Sunday Night Snow Level * 8000' 6500' 6000' ' ' 7000' ' 8500'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 8000' 6000' 6000' ' ' 7000' ' 8500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 5000' ' ' 6500' ' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
8500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35 S 15 - 25 SSW 25 - 35 --- - SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40 SSW 25 - 35 SSW 15 - 25 --- - SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 25 - 35 S 25 - 35 SSW 20 - 30 --- - SSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40 SSE 25 - 35 S 30 - 40 --- - SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 35 - 50 --- - SSW 40 - 60
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Sunday Night SSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night S 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning S 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon S 35 - 50
Monday Night WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 40 - 60
Monday Night W 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Sunday Night SSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night S 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning S 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon S 35 - 50
Monday Night WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 40 - 60
Monday Night W 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
Sunday Morning WSW 40 - 60 WSW 45 - 65 WSW 35 - 50 --- - WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Afternoon SW 35 - 50 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 50 - 70 --- - WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Night SW 40 - 60 WSW 50 - 70 WSW 45 - 65 --- - WSW 45 - 65
Monday Morning SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 SW 50 - 70 --- - SW 50 - 70
Monday Afternoon SW 45 - 65 SW 45 - 65 SW 50 - 70 --- - SW 65 - 85
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Sunday Night SW 40 - 60
Monday Morning SW 40 - 60
Monday Afternoon SW 45 - 65
Monday Night WSW 45 - 65
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 45 - 65
Sunday Afternoon WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Night WSW 50 - 70
Monday Morning SW 40 - 60
Monday Afternoon SW 45 - 65
Monday Night WSW 40 - 60
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Sunday Night WSW 45 - 65
Monday Morning SW 50 - 70
Monday Afternoon SW 50 - 70
Monday Night WSW 45 - 65
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Afternoon WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Night WSW 45 - 65
Monday Morning SW 50 - 70
Monday Afternoon SW 65 - 85
Monday Night WSW 60 - 80

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 26, 2018

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