Issued: 6:59 AM PST Thursday, January 3, 2019
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 & Wednesday

A plume of warm frontal moisture is aimed into Washington State and southern B.C this morning, pushing copious amounts of moisture into the region along with elevated snow levels. It's raining almost everywhere except Mt. Baker, and even here snow levels should creep up to 6000 ft by late morning. West winds have overwhelmed light offshore gradients, so rain is expected to continue in the Passes.  

The warm front will begin to lift north a bit this afternoon, so the heaviest precipitation will largely shut off for the south Washington Cascades, but remained trained into the Olympics and north Cascades. Alpine winds will remain strong out of the SW through Friday morning. 

The front should pass through the Cascades in the early morning hours of Friday. Snow levels will lower late Thursday night through Friday, but with the air mass filtering into the region is only slightly cooler, and snow levels will stay in the 3500-4500 range behind the front.  Showers will generally be light on Friday, except for the Mt. Baker area where SW post-frontal flow will help locally enhance shower activity. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

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 7000' 6000' 6000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 6500' 6000' 6000' 6500' 6500' 6500' 6500' 7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level 5500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 7000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'

* 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 Night Wednesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 - 2.00 2.00 1.00
Washington Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Leavenworth LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Paradise 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday Night 0.75 -1.00
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.50 - 2.00
Thursday Night 2.00
Wednesday 1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday LT 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.75
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.00
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.00
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40 S 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 35 - 45 S 30 - 40 SW 25 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30 S 30 - 40 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30 S 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35 S 15 - 25 SW 20 - 35 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon S 35 - 45
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning S 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon S 30 - 40
Thursday Evening S 30 - 40
Thursday Night S 15 - 25
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 25 - 40
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SW 20 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night S 30 - 40
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon S 35 - 45
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning S 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon S 30 - 40
Thursday Evening S 30 - 40
Thursday Night S 15 - 25
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 25 - 40
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SW 20 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Thursday Evening S 20 - 30
Thursday Night S 30 - 40
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 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 50 - 60 SW 50 - 60 SW 50 - 60 SW 50 - 60 WSW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SW 50 - 60 SW 60 - 70 SW 50 - 60 SW 50 - 60 SW 40 - 50
Thursday Evening SW 50 - 60 SW 45 - 55 SW 55 - 65 SW 55 - 65 SW 50 - 60
Thursday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 45 - 55 SW 60 - 70 SW 60 - 75 SW 60 - 70
Friday Morning SW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 SW 40 - 50 SW 45 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 50 - 60
Thursday Evening SW 50 - 60
Thursday Night SW 30 - 40
Friday Morning SW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 60 - 70
Thursday Evening SW 45 - 55
Thursday Night SW 45 - 55
Friday Morning SW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 50 - 60
Thursday Evening SW 55 - 65
Thursday Night SW 60 - 70
Friday Morning SW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 50 - 60
Thursday Evening SW 55 - 65
Thursday Night SW 60 - 75
Friday Morning SW 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Thursday Evening SW 50 - 60
Thursday Night SW 60 - 70
Friday Morning SW 45 - 55
Friday Afternoon 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.

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

Previous forecast from Dec 30, 2018

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