Issued: 7:03 AM PST Wednesday, January 16, 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 Wednesday & Wednesday

A closed low heading for northern California Wednesday morning will begin to track increasingly northward while slowly weakening and filling; but not before it sends significant moisture and energy into California. The Pacific Northwest will experience mostly mid-level moisture arriving from the south on Wednesday. Wednesday night through Thursday morning, a weakening band of moisture will lift northward and spread moderate snowfall to Mt. Hood and the east slopes of the southern WA Cascades with lighter snowfall along the west slopes and in the Central Cascades and Olympics.

Increasing S then SW flow is expected as the low tracks about 250 miles off our coastline on Thursday, with continued easterly flow through the passes. Light snow is expected with higher snow levels west of the Cascade crest.

The main energy of the low will bring moderate rain and snow spreading throughout the region Thursday night. A wind shift late Thursday night is likely to change Snoqualmie pass to rain, but slightly higher elevations will remain snow.

On Friday, showers will decrease as the initial low departs, but a second low tracking to our NW, well offshore, will spread increasing moisture into our region late in the day as snow levels rise. 

 

 

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening ESE 20 - 30 E 15 - 25 E 20 - 30 E 20 - 30 E 25 - 35
Wednesday Night SSE 10 - 20 E 10 - 20 E 15 - 25 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 20 - 30 ESE 10 - 20 E 15 - 25 ESE 20 - 30 SSE 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 15 - 25
Wednesday Night E 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning E 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 20 - 30
Wednesday Night E 15 - 25
Thursday Morning E 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon ESE 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 20 - 30
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening E 25 - 35
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 15 - 25
Wednesday Night E 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning E 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 20 - 30
Wednesday Night E 15 - 25
Thursday Morning E 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon ESE 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening E 20 - 30
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening E 25 - 35
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50

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
Wednesday Morning S 15 - 25 SSW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 SSE 15 - 25 SSE 20 - 30 SSE 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening SE 20 - 30 SSE 25 - 35 SSE 30 - 45 SSE 35 - 50 S 45 - 65
Wednesday Night SE 20 - 30 SE 25 - 35 SSE 15 - 25 S 25 - 35 SSW 40 - 60
Thursday Morning S 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 SW 25 - 35 SSW 30 - 45 SSW 40 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening SE 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SE 20 - 30
Thursday Morning S 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Wednesday Night SE 25 - 35
Thursday Morning S 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening SSE 30 - 45
Wednesday Night SSE 15 - 25
Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SSW 40 - 60
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening SSE 35 - 50
Wednesday Night S 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SSW 30 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SSW 45 - 65
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening S 45 - 65
Wednesday Night SSW 40 - 60
Thursday Morning SSW 40 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 50 - 70

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 13, 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.