Issued: 2:50 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Tuesday

Following a potent windstorm Saturday night, an upper trough will remain over the area Sunday night and Monday morning. Cells of convection are rotating through the trough offshore and some of these have organized into a band of moderate snow that will cross the Cascades during the evening hours and will affect most areas south of Mt. Baker. Another period of enhancement may cross the Cascades during the early morning hours. Decreasing snow showers will generally end by the end of the day on Monday as a shortwave upper-level ridge cuts off the cool, unstable flow. Fair and clearing skies can be expected Monday night. Pass-level winds will shift easterly after midnight and will become 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. The southerly flow will rapidly erode the cooler air previously in place west of the Cascade Crest, but the cold air should remain in place to the east. Light to moderate precipitation will spread into the area, with the heaviest rain and snow along the coast and in the Olympics.

Snow totals Sunday night through the day on Monday are expected in the 10-14" range for Mt. Hood, 8-12" for Paradise, 5-10" for the Central Cascade passes and 2-6" for Crystal, White Pass, and Mt. Baker. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Light snow showers heaviest in the evening hours. Moderate and gusty winds.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Light snow showers, potentially moderate in the early morning hours. Moderate winds, increasing.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow early, becoming light snow showers after midnight. Moderate winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Light to moderate snow in the evening hours becoming light snow showers. Moderate winds with strong gusts.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Light to moderate snow. Moderate and gusty winds.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Moderate snow early becoming light snow showers. Moderate gusty winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 1000' 1000' 500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 1000' 1000' 0' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1000' 500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level 1000' 500' 0' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Monday Night Snow Level * 1500' 500' 0' 500' 0' 500' 1000' 2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 3000' 500' 0' 500' 500' 1500' 2500' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
500'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
0'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
500'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
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 Evening SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
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 Evening WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
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 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 30 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
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 Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Monday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
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 Evening W 35 - 50
Sunday Night W 30 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Monday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

Waves of (plentiful) moisture will move through the Pacific Northwest as the mature and weakening low tracks NE toward the central British Columbia coastline. Elevated snow levels will be the rule west of the Cascade Crest Tuesday night through the day on Wednesday with the strong easterly flow generally lowering snow levels at the Cascade Passes. Pressure gradients should slacken Wednesday night, assuring a shift to rain at the lower passes if it doesn't occur earlier. 

The heaviest waves of precipitation will likely occur late Wednesday through the day on Thursday. A warm front is likely to move across the region from south to north during the day on Thursday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 2500' - 3500' 4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 3000' - 4000' 4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' 4500' - 5500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Thursday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'

* 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 6, 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.