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 Wednesday
A cold air mass sits over the Pacific Northwest as we enter another very active and wintry stretch of weather.
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 ahead of the surface low and upper trough spreads increasingly heavy snow and strong SSW winds across the region on Friday with the front approaching the coastline on Friday morning and crossing the Cascades by mid-afternoon. Winds should peak late-morning in the Olympics, and early afternoon for the Cascades. Mt Baker, Snoqualmie, and Paradise should all see 1-1.5" of snow water equivalent with 1-2 ft of snow accumulating by the end of the day Friday. East flow from during the day Friday should keep the Passes quite cold. The system brings subtle warming, but snow levels should stay low throughout the event, peaking around 2000 ft for the Washington Cascades.
Friday night, the upper low moves over the Cascades, sustaining moderate to heavy snowfall across the region with the most in areas further south where the winds WSW flow circulating around the trough should be strongest and providing the most orographic lift.
On Saturday, with the upper trough sliding eastward, the region sustains light to moderate snow showers with a brisk WNW flow continuing to focus the heavier snowfall from Snoqualmie Pass southward. Lighter winds should be found in areas further north.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Increasing clouds lowering and thickening with light snow developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Moderate snow becoming showery by the end of the day. Strong winds peaking late morning. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with light snow developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Heavy snow. Strong winds peaking early afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Cloudy with light snow developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Increasing moderate snowfall. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Decreasing snow showers in the evening, then becoming cloudy with light snow developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Heavy snow. Light to moderate E winds through the gaps switching W by the end of the day. Strong alpine winds in exposed locations. Strong alpine winds developing in the central Cascades late in the day. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Decreasing snow showers in the evening, then becoming cloudy with light snow developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Increasing heavy snow at Paradise. Increasing moderate snow at White Pass. Strong alpine winds with extreme gusts. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Decreasing snow showers in the evening, then becoming cloudy with light snow possibly developing in the early morning hours. |
| Friday | Increasing moderate snow becoming heavy by evening. Increasing strong alpine winds with extreme gusts. |
Issued: 2:30 PM 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 Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 0' | 1000' | 0' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 1500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level * | 1500' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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 | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 1.50 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 1.50 | 1.00 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 1.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 1.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 1.00 |
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: 2:30 PM PST Thursday, January 9, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 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 Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 10 - 20 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 | SW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 55 | W 40 - 55 | W 40 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 60 | WSW 40 - 50 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 40 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 65 |
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.
Issued: 2:30 PM PST Thursday, January 9, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
The wintry weather continues into the extended forecast. A weaker disturbance sliding down the coast of British Columbia Saturday night as light to moderate snow shower activity continues in the same general areas. The disturbance should bring increased snowfall to the region on Sunday as it moves onshore over Washington by the afternoon. This could result in heavier snowfall extending back northward toward the North Cascades. Meanwhile, a surface boundary-pushing south along the BC-US border knocks at the door and pushes southward across the region Sunday night and Monday. This could focus a band of convergence as a surface front slowly pushes south. The heaviest precipitation should push southward once again where the moist air continues to stream in on a NW flow. We'll be measuring snowfall in feet, not inches in the southern part of the forecast area with this sustained event.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 1000' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | 0' - 1000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' (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 Jan 9, 2020
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