Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Thursday
A warm front is lifting north across the region with the tail end of rain and snow affecting the central and north Washington Cascades this morning as well as the Olympics. As the front lifts north, the central and south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood should see a partial clearing trend through early afternoon. Strong to very strong winds this morning for places like Mt. Baker and above treeline elsewhere in the Cascades my ease for a few hours mid-day before ramping back up in the afternoon. Freezing levels will soar this afternoon as our region is in the warm sector waiting for the cold front to arrive.
The cold front associated with the low pressure system north of Vancouver Island will sweep through tonight bringing a burst of heavier precipitation and more extreme winds. Snow levels should drop rapidly with the onset of precipitation in the late evening for the Cascades with snow levels plummetting to near 2000 feet by early Saturday morning. Post-frontal showers and windy westerlies will summarize Saturday, with moderate new snow accumulations for the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood during the day.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday | Cloudy with periods of rain. Mild. Winds increasing and becoming very strong to extreme in the afternoon and evening. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday | Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow ending this morning. Mild. Very windy. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday | Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow near the Cascade crest ending this morning. Mild. Very strong winds in the alpine. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday | Periods of light rain and snow ending this morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy this afternoon with sunbreaks. Mild. Very strong winds in the alpine. Light to moderate west winds becoming east late this afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday | Cloudy this morning becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Mild. Very strong winds in the alpine. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Cloudy this morning becoming partly to mostly sunny this afternoon. Mild. Very strong winds in the alpine. |
Issued: 7:16 AM PST Friday, January 3, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 7000' | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5000' | 7000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 7000' | 6500' | 6000' | 7000' | 6500' | 7000' | 7500' | 9000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level * | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 7000' | 6500' | 7000' | 6500' | 7000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday 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
| Friday | Friday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 7:16 AM PST Friday, January 3, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 20 - 30 | S 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 40 - 50 | S 30 - 40 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 | S 40 - 60 | SE 25 - 35 | S 35 - 45 | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 40 - 50 |
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Evening | S 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Evening | S 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 40 - 50 |
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Evening | S 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Evening | S 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 50 - 60 | WSW 50 - 60 | W 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 60 - 70 | SW 60 - 80 | SW 50 - 60 | SW 50 - 60 | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 | SW 60 - 80 | SW 60 - 80 | SW 60 - 80 | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 45 - 55 | W 40 - 50 | W 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | W 50 - 60 | W 55 - 65 | W 45 - 55 | W 40 - 50 | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 55 | W 40 - 50 | W 30 - 40 | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 55 - 65 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 45 - 55 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Morning | W 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | SW 60 - 80 |
| Friday Night | W 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
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 2, 2020
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