Issued: 5:09 PM PST Monday, January 7, 2019
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

5 pm Update: Corrected precipitation type in Weather Forecast for Tuesday. 

A transitory upper level ridge will quickly pass through the region tonight, opening the door for mid and high level clouds to spread up from the south. A mature low pressure system well offshore will spin light warm frontal moisture over the area on Tuesday also from south to north during the daylight hours, with the highest snowfall amounts likely in the Mt. Hood area and to a lesser degree the Crystal Mt./Paradise area. 

Offshore easterly flow will ramp up quickly overnight through Tuesday and E-SE winds should increase quickly near and west of the Cascade crest from Snoqualmie Pass and southward. The easterly flow will also mute the warming trend during the day for all areas. The associated weak cold front should move through Tuesday night, producing generally light precipitation. 

A trailing longwave trough will begin to quick the whole mess through late Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night. With each round of precipitation in southerly flow, the cold air trapped in and around the Cascades including Mt. Hood will erode with gradually rising snow levels and increased chances for mixed precipitation. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds. Light east winds at Pass level becoming moderate after midnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night Increasing mid and high clouds, light snow developing late.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Evening Freezing Level 1000' 1000' 0' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000'
Monday Night Freezing Level * 2000' 1000' 0' 500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 1500' 500' 0' 0' 500' 500' 1000' 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level * 4500' 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level * 6500' 3500' 500' 1000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level * 6000' 4500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 5500' 4500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 4000' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(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

Monday Night Monday Monday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.75
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.75 LT 0.25 0.25
LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 ESE 20 - 30 ESE 20 - 30 ESE 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night E 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning E 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening SE 5 - 15
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night E 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning E 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SE 5 - 15
Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening WNW 10 - 20 WNW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25
Monday Night S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 S 35 - 45 S 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Monday Night S 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Monday Night S 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon S 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 15 - 25
Monday Night SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning S 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon S 30 - 40

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

We should briefly be done with southerly flow after the trough's passage and a period of moderate precipitation Wednesday night.  Light warm frontal moisture will quickly lift over Washington state during the day Thursday with snow levels creeping up once again. A high amplitude ridge will build over the inland Thursday night and Friday as freezing levels push even higher. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 5000' - 6000'
Thursday Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 5500' 5000' - 6000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' 5500' - 6500' 7000' - 8000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Thursday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
(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.

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 7, 2019

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