Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Thursday
On Thursday morning, strong jetstream tracks from Alaska down the entire West Coast of N America to southern California with a trough dug out over the western US and a moderate ridge offshore. That leaves us with cool NW flow aloft on Thursday. bringing temperatures in the 10's and 20's to many areas of the Cascades early Thursday morning.
A weak mid-level feature with a surface boundary from Bellingham to Hurricane Ridge at 7 AM on Thursday moves SE over the area today, bringing some light snow showers and weak convergence to the west slopes of the Cascades (at approximately 500 ft snow levels). This light snow should spread into the Hood region by the afternoon and evening hours.
A strong storm dropping into the region on NW flow should bring increasing and lowering clouds Thursday night with precipitation arriving in some areas before Friday morning. SSW winds should increase significantly from the early morning hours onwards.
A cold front spreads increasingly heavy snow and strong SSW winds (a 50 mph barrier jet) to the region on Friday with the front approaching the coastline on Monday morning and crossing the Cascades by late afternoon. Mt Baker, Snoqualmie, and Paradise should all see over an inch of water with 1-1.5 ft of snow. East flow from late Thursday night until late afternoon on Friday should keep the Passes quite cold. The system brings subtle warming, but snow levels should stay low throughout the event.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday | Chance of light snow showers in the morning with partial clearing in the afternoon. Cool. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday | Chance of light snow showers in the morning with slight by mid-afternoon. Cool. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday | Chance of light snow near the Cascade Crest with partial clearing further east. Moderate and gusty winds on the ridges east of the crest. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Chance of light snow and weak convergence. An inch or two of snow is possible. Light W winds at 5000 ft and through the Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday | Chance of light snow and weak convergence, mainly during the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Clear early with periods of light snow developing, mainly during the afternoon. Gradually increasing winds. |
Issued: 7:09 AM PST Thursday, January 9, 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 | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 0' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 0' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level * | 1000' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 1000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level * | 1500' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 1500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (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 | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | 0 | LT 0.25 | 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 1.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
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: 7:09 AM PST Thursday, January 9, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 | WNW 0 - 10 | WNW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | WNW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | S 25 - 35 | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
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 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 30 - 40 | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 15 - 25 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 10 - 20 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | NW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 | SW 45 - 60 | WSW 45 - 65 | W 40 - 55 | W 40 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 40 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | NW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | W 40 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
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 8, 2020
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