Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Saturday
An active weather pattern continues. A warm front lifting northward into the region on Thursday should decrease the strong westerly flow that has been responsible for strong to extreme winds east of the Cascade Crest Wednesday night. The front should spread light snow (1-4") to many areas during the late morning and afternoon hours. The warm front should bring strong warming to most of the region Thursday night with a changeover to rain expected for all passes except for Washington Pass by Friday morning. Cold air trapped in the Methow may just keep Washington Pass as all snow with snow levels above 5500 ft everywhere else by Friday morning everywhere else. SW winds should be increasing into the moderate to strong range as warm air floods the region.
On Friday, Pacific Northwest should be in the warm sector of the system with high snow/freezing levels and some light precipitation skirting the Olympics or Northwest Washington Cascades. SW flow continues.
On Friday night, a strong cold front crosses the region bringing an intense southerly barrier jet out ahead of it with a strong push of WSW winds behind it and rain changing to heavy snow behind the front. Snow levels at Snoqualmie Pass should drop below Pass level behind the front and significant accumulations are expected.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday | Increasing light snow, mainly during the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday | Cloudy with light snow developing in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday | Cloudy with light snow developing in the afternoon. Strong W winds with extreme gusts early decreasing to the moderate range by afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Snow flurries decreasing or ending in the morning. Light snow developing in the afternoon. W winds 15-25 mph through the Passes in the morning decreasing in the afternoon and possibly switching E by evening. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday | Cloudy with light snow increasing from the late morning onwards. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Cloudy with periods of light snow or snow flurries throughout the day. Rising snow levels late in the day. |
Issued: 7:05 AM PST Thursday, January 2, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 1500' | 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level * | 4000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 4000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 6500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 7000' | 6500' | 5000' | 6000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 7500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 6500' | 5500' | 5500' | 6500' | 6000' | 6500' | 7000' | 8500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8500' |
* 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 | Thursday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 1.00 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 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: 7:05 AM PST Thursday, January 2, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 | S 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 | SSE 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 | SSE 30 - 40 | SSE 25 - 35 | S 25 - 35 | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
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 Morning | W 20 - 30 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 40 - 55 | WNW 35 - 45 | WNW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ENE 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 | WSW 40 - 55 | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 45 - 60 | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 45 - 60 | W 40 - 55 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 65 - 85 |
| Friday Morning | SW 45 - 60 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 55 - 75 | WSW 60 - 80 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 50 - 70 | SW 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ENE 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Morning | SW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 55 - 75 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 55 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Evening | W 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | W 65 - 85 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Friday 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 1, 2020
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