Issued: 6:44 AM PST Sunday, January 6, 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 Sunday & Wednesday

A compact but potent low and trough combination passed through the region during the early morning hours on Sunday, bringing a strong southerly and then westerly wind surge to parts of the Pacific Northwest. This feature has passed northward into British Columbia, leaving the upper trough moving into the area during the day. This will bring W-SW flow and snow shower activity along with moderate and gusty winds (nothing like what passed through during the early morning hours). The heaviest snow showers will be north of Stevens Pass today, with another wave of more organized snow shower activity developing over the south Cascades late in the day. 

The upper trough will remain over the area Sunday night and Monday morning with very gradually decreasing snow showers mostly confined to the west slopes of the Cascades. A shortwave upper-level ridge will generally cut off precipitation by Monday evening. Fair and clearing skies can be expected Monday night. Pass-level winds will shift easterly Monday night and will be moderate with strong gusts by Tuesday morning

A mature low spins some 600 miles off the N. California on Tuesday, spreading light to moderate snow on a southerly flow. At this time it appears that the heaviest precipitation will be across the Olympic Mountains. Strong easterly flow can be expected through the Cascade Passes.

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
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 1000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 1000' 1000' 0' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1000' 500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Night W 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Night WSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Night WSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15

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 35 - 50 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 30 - 45 SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 SW 35 - 50
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 35 - 50
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 50 W 30 - 45 W 30 - 45 W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 30 - 45 WSW 30 - 45 WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 35 - 50
Monday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Monday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Monday Afternoon W 30 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening W 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Monday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Sunday Evening W 35 - 50
Sunday Night W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 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 Jan 5, 2019

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.