Issued: 2:42 PM PST Wednesday, February 27, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

An upper low spins in the near-shore waters off the Washington Coast through Thursday night. On Wednesday night, winds are southerly ahead of the low as a band of snow moves from south to north across the region, bringing several inches of snow with favored locations along the central Washington Cascades east slopes and then Mt. Baker as the low-level flow switches from SE to SSW with the passage of the band of snow. Light easterly wind through the mountain gaps will decrease and become variable by morning.

On Thursday, a surface low forms and might spawn a few light snow showers near Mt. Hood, the southern Washington Cascades, and Olympics. Elsewhere, expect partly cloudy, cool weather.

Thursday night and Friday the low drops south and weakens, with minimal instability snow showers continuing to affect the Mt. Hood area with cloud cover decreasing.

Throughout the short-term forecast, temperatures will remain below seasonal norms, with very chilly air moving in east of the Cascade Crest on Friday morning.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Wednesday Night Cloudy with a chance of flurries. Cold. Light to moderate winds becoming light.
Mt. Baker
Wednesday Night Increasing light snow during the evening hours and continuing overnight. Cool. Light winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Wednesday Night Light snowfall affecting the Leavenworth area during the evening hours and the Washington Pass area after 10 PM. Cool. Light to moderate winds at Washington Pass.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Light snow developing early and decreasing after midnight. Cool. Light winds at 5000 ft with decreasing light E winds at pass level becoming variable by morning.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Wednesday Night Light snow in the evening, then cloudy with flurries after midnight. Cool. Light winds, moderate at ridge crests.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Light snow decreasing and becoming very light snow showers. Cool. Light winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening Snow Level * 500' 2000' 1500' 500' 1000' 1000' 500' 0'
Wednesday Night Snow Level * 0' 500' 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level * 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level * 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 500' 500'
Friday Morning Snow Level * 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 500' 1000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
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 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Leavenworth LT 0.25 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0.25 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0 0 0
Paradise LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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 SE 10 - 20 SSE 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night S 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20 SSW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 WNW 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Night S 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

The region sits under a dry NW flow with a ridge offshore and a broad trough to the east. The western edge of that trough pushes a modified arctic air mass into the region Saturday into early next week. Expect moderate to strong easterly winds, particularly at night when the pressure gradients are strongest. Very cold air and biting wind chills will be the story east of the Cascade Crest and near the mountain gaps with strong downslope winds and west of the Cascade Crest. Dry weather should dominate the weekend.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' 1500' - 2500' 1000' - 3000' *
Saturday Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' 1000' - 2000' 1000' - 2000' *
Saturday Night Freezing Level 500' - 2500' 500' - 2500' 500' - 1500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
(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 27, 2019

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