Issued: 2:13 PM PST Wednesday, February 6, 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 Wednesday night through Sunday

Another cold and mostly clear night is on tap for the Pacific Northwest. Shortwave upper level ridging upstream of our area will slide inland on Thursday, resulting in fair weather. A weak Pacific frontal system will run into the ridge and split, managing only to send high clouds over the area during the day. Freezing levels will rebound slightly Thursday afternoon as the cold air mass currently over our region begins to moderate slightly over time. 

With a high amplitude upper level ridge once again positioned offshore between140W-150W, cold northerly flow aloft will allow an upper level trough to dig off the British Columbia Coast Friday. A developing low pressure system off the coast will begin to rotate light snow into the region on Friday. Snow levels will rise slightly for areas from Snoqualmie Pass and south to Mt. Hood during the day. 

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds after midnight. Cold.
Mt. Baker
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds after midnight. Cold.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds after midnight. Cold.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Periods of high clouds after midnight. Cold. Light east wind in the Passes increasing after midnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly clear. Cold.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Mostly clear except for areas of low clouds lower slopes. Cold.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level * 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level * 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level * 2000' 1500' 1500' 500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2500'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level * 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Thursday Night Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Friday Morning Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 1000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 S 0 - 10
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10

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 Evening NW 10 - 20 NW 20 - 30 NNW 15 - 25 NW 15 - 25 NW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night NW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night NW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night NW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

The low pressure system will slowly drop south along the Washington/Oregon coastline Friday night and Saturday, rotating additional waves of light moisture over the region. Offshore northerly gradients will once again draw down much colder air from the Canadian interior beginning Friday night and continuing on Saturday. 

Conditions should dry out first in the Mt. Baker region Saturday afternoon, with steadier snow showers continuing for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area closer to the low center.

As the low pulls further south Saturday night and Sunday, showers will become more scattered but localized upslope snow should start up along the east slopes of the Cascades north of I-90 and along the north slopes of the Olympics. The cold weather looks likely to continue but it's important to note forecast models diverge sharply on weather systems heading into next week. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 1000' 1500' - 2500' *
Saturday Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 500' 1000' - 2000' *
Saturday Night Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 0' 0' - 0' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'

* 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 Feb 6, 2019

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