Issued: 7:10 AM PST Saturday, January 5, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Thursday

An elongated open trough extends southward to the northern California coastal waters. The trough rotates approaches the Pacific Northwest on Saturday. Most areas will experience mostly cloudy and mild day conditions with the precipitation mostly offshore until moisture begins arriving late in the day from the south.

Light precipitation and moderate E winds will increase this evening ahead of the surface trough as it swings across the region overnight from the SW to NE. Behind the surface trough, a shot of moderate snow will move through the region, accompanied by strong W-SW wind and rapid cooling. Snoqualmie Pass is likely to experience light snow in the evening hours cooled by E flow, with a brief mix or changeover to rain in the early morning hours as pass-level flow switches westerly. Precipitation will switch back to all snow by around 4 AM as the cold air quickly moves in. 

Light to snow showers and moderate convergence zone bands will remain over the region on Sunday with the cool upper trough over the region. There is a chance for mild convection.

Mt. Hood and Paradise can expect close to a foot of new snowfall by the end of the day on Sunday, while other areas should expect 2-6".

Sunday night, the trough shifts eastward with decreasing light snow showers on W-NW flow

Monday will bring a drying trend as a shortwave ridge builds late in the day.

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
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 4000' 4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level * 4500' 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4500' 5000' 5500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level * 4500' 4500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 4000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'

* 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

Saturday Saturday Night Thursday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0.75 0.75
Washington Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.25
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.50 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 0.75 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.75 0.50
LT 0.10 0.75 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.50
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SSE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SE 25 - 35 E 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 ENE 10 - 20 ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SSE 25 - 35 ESE 10 - 20 E 20 - 30 ESE 20 - 30 SE 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 35 - 50 S 20 - 30 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 30 - 45 WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Saturday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Saturday Evening E 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20
Saturday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SE 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Saturday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Saturday Evening E 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20
Saturday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SE 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25

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
Saturday Morning SSE 25 - 35 SSE 30 - 45 S 30 - 45 SSE 30 - 45 S 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35 SSE 30 - 45 S 25 - 35 SSW 30 - 45 SSW 40 - 60
Saturday Evening S 25 - 35 SSE 25 - 35 S 30 - 45 S 40 - 60 SSW 55 - 75
Saturday Night SSW 35 - 50 SSW 25 - 35 SW 45 - 65 WSW 45 - 65 WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 50 SW 35 - 50 WSW 30 - 45 WSW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Saturday Evening S 25 - 35
Saturday Night SSW 35 - 50
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSE 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SSE 30 - 45
Saturday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Saturday Night SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Saturday Evening S 30 - 45
Saturday Night SW 45 - 65
Sunday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSE 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SSW 30 - 45
Saturday Evening S 40 - 60
Saturday Night WSW 45 - 65
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SSW 40 - 60
Saturday Evening SSW 55 - 75
Saturday Night WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30

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 5, 2019

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