Issued: 2:15 PM PST Thursday, February 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 Thursday night through Saturday

The northern branch of the jet stream will take over tonight as an upper level trough upstream over British Columbia slides south toward our region. The surface reflection of the upper level trough will be a developing surface low pressure system off of Vancouver Island that slowly slides south off the Washington coastline tonight through Friday. 

This will translate into light snow developing for the Olympics and north Cascades after midnight tonight, and light snow spreading south for all areas during the day. Snow may become moderate in the Hurricane Ridge area during the day on Friday. 

Snow should increase for all areas Friday night as the low pressure system sets up off the south Washington Coast, rotating moisture up and over much colder air being drawn out from the interior of the British Columbia. 

As the low continues to sag south along the coastline on Saturday, drier air should taper snow from north to south along the west slopes of the Cascades Saturday afternoon. Closer to the low pressure system, moderate snowfall should continue in the Mt. Hood region. 

Upslope enhancement should also produce locally higher snow totals along the north slopes of the Olympics and in a broader area along the east slopes of the Cascades due to northerly and easterly winds respectively. Snowfall totals could stack up to 12-18 inches along the east slopes of the Cascades Friday night and Saturday for areas like Mission Ridge. A broad swath of moderate easterly winds should affect the Washington Cascades Saturday as well. 

Throughout this period, cold temperatures will squeeze out high snowfall ratios from water amounts that would otherwise appear unimpressive.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Clouds lowering overnight. Light snow developing after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Clouds lowering overnight. Light snow developing after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Clouds slowly lowering overnight. Very light snow developing Washington Pass late.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Overcast. Clouds slowly lowering overnight. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level decreasing overnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Overcast. Clouds slowly lowering overnight.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Overcast. Clouds slowly lowering overnight.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning W 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday Morning NE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening S 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday Morning NE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon WSW 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
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WNW 15 - 30 WNW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Friday Morning W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WNW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 30
Friday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 10 - 20
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

Upslope snow showers will begin to taper down from north to south along the east slopes of the Cascades Saturday night. On Sunday, snow showers should become light and scattered across the region as the upper level trough moves into the Intermountain West.  

Forecast models diverge sharply Sunday night and Monday. The latest GFS run brings a fast-moving but potent system into the region in NW flow aloft Sunday night and also leaves the door open for a steady succession of weather systems. The European model continues to show low pressure systems in northerly flow aloft developing a bit further off the coast, affecting Mt. Hood but largely bypassing Washington State. There is much higher confidence that cold air and low snow levels will remain firmly entrenched over the region for the next week or more.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 0' 0' - 0' *
Sunday Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 0' 0' - 0'
Sunday Night Snow Level 0' - 0' 0' - 0' 0' - 0' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 0'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0' - 0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(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 Feb 7, 2019

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