Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Friday
A high-amplitude late-January ridge will reach its peak strength across the region today as it sits along the west coast, bringing the mid and upper elevation mountains the warmest temperatures they have seen since November 19th. Subsidence associated with the ridge is keeping fog confined to the lowest 1000 ft above sea level. Inversion conditions strengthened overnight with many NWAC stations in the upper 30s and low 40s above 6000 ft and in the 20s and 30s lower 30s at pass level. The coldest air is found in the Methow Valley where temperatures are in the 10s. As the sun warms the lower atmosphere today, the inversion will decrease in strength, giving mild conditions to most locations except the deeper valleys east of the Cascade Crest. Some thin high clouds may arrive in the afternoon, but the area should experience generally sunny weather and light winds. Overnight, the inversion should gain some strength as clear skies and light winds continue, with patchy very low-level fog developing once again.
On Sunday, the ridge retrogrades slightly west as a weak system moves down the back side of the ridge to our east, making the day slightly cooler (freezing levels drop 2000 ft) relative to Saturday. The general pattern continues with mostly clear skies, a weakening inversion, and patchy very low-level fog dissipating throughout the day.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday | Clear early with thin high clouds increasing. Fog below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm with inversion conditions. Light winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday | Clear in the morning with thin high clouds in the afternoon. Fog in deeper valleys below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm with inversion conditions. Light winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday | Clear in the morning with thin high clouds in the afternoon. Fog in deeper valleys below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm at upper elevations with inversion conditions. Light winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday | Clear in the morning with thin high clouds in the afternoon. Fog in deeper valleys below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm at upper elevations with inversion conditions. Light westerly switching to light easterly winds at the pass. Generally light alpine winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday | Clear in the morning with thin high clouds in the afternoon. Fog in deeper valleys below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm at upper elevations with inversion conditions. Light winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday | Clear in the morning with thin high clouds in the afternoon. Fog in deeper valleys below 1000 ft, decreasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably warm at upper elevations with inversion conditions. Light winds. |
Issued: 6:52 AM PST Saturday, January 26, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Freezing Level | 11500' | 11000' | 11000' | 11500' | 11500' | 11500' | 11500' | 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11500' |
| Saturday Evening | Freezing Level * | 10000' | 10500' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11000' | 11500' | 11500' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 9000' | 9000' | 9000' | 10000' | 9000' | 9500' | 10000' | 10500' |
| Sunday Morning | Freezing Level | 9500' | 7500' | 6500' | 9000' | 9000' | 9000' | 9000' | 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 10000' | 7500' | 7000' | 9000' | 9000' | 9500' | 10000' | 10000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 10500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
* 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
| Saturday | Saturday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 6:52 AM PST Saturday, January 26, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | WNW 10 - 20 | NW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | WNW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | NE 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 20 - 30 | W 5 - 15 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 40 - 60 | W 45 - 65 | W 40 - 60 | W 30 - 45 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 40 - 60 | WNW 35 - 50 | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 | NW 20 - 30 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | W 40 - 60 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | W 45 - 65 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 40 - 60 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 30 - 45 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
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 25, 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.