Issued: 7:00 AM PST Tuesday, January 8, 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 Tuesday & Monday

A stacked and mature low pressure system well offshore will lift a warm front from south to north over the area today.  Snowfall will be heaviest for the Mt. Hood area, and to a lesser extend the southwest Washington Cascades and along the east slopes of the Cascades from Hwy 2 and south.  Free-air freezing levels have jumped to 6000-7000 feet along the Washington and Oregon coast this morning, but strong offshore will keep snow levels muted everywhere but the Olympic Mountains. Moderate east winds up to crest level are expected from Snoqualmie Pass and south to Mt. Hood. 

Warm frontal moisture will weaken and lift into Canada later this evening with light precipitation expected overnight. Warm air will continue weaseling it's way into the Cascades later tonight and tomorrow, creating the opportunity for freezing rain from Snoqualmie Pass to Mt. Hood. Even Mt. Baker could see a period of mixed precipitation later tonight and tomorrow morning. Precipitation will pick up tomorrow afternoon mainly for the Olympics and Mt. Baker area as the long wave trough kicks the old frontal boundary through tomorrow afternoon. Snow levels will slowly moderate through Wednesday afternoon.  

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SSE 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 ESE 25 - 35 SE 20 - 35 ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30 E 10 - 20 ESE 20 - 30 SE 15 - 25 ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25 SE 5 - 15 ESE 20 - 30 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25 SE 5 - 15 ESE 20 - 30 SE 20 - 30 SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35 SE 10 - 20 ESE 20 - 30 SE 25 - 35 SE 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon S 30 - 50
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning E 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning ESE 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Night ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning SE 20 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon S 30 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning E 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning ESE 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Tuesday Night ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SE 20 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 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
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 25 - 35 S 35 - 45 SSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40 SSW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SSW 35 - 45 SSW 40 - 50
Tuesday Evening S 25 - 35 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 30 - 40 SSW 40 - 50
Tuesday Night S 25 - 35 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 35 - 45 SSW 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning S 35 - 45 S 20 - 30 SSW 30 - 40 S 40 - 50 SW 45 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening S 25 - 35
Tuesday Night S 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning S 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon S 40 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night S 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night S 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon SW 45 - 55
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Evening S 30 - 40
Tuesday Night S 35 - 45
Wednesday Morning S 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon S 50 - 60
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 40 - 50
Tuesday Evening SSW 40 - 50
Tuesday Night SSW 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning SW 45 - 55
Wednesday Afternoon SW 50 - 60

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 7, 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.