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 & Sunday
The upper level ridge has shifted along the Pacific coast Thursday morning. Light precipitation from a warm front is brushing the north Cascades with mostly clear conditions further south. The ridge should build today pushing clouds and precipitation back north and allowing a mostly sunny and mild afternoon. The cold temperatures seen in the valleys yesterday morning have moderated quite a bit and there is no longer a strong temperature inversion.
A weak frontal system should approach from the west spreading high clouds inland late tonight. This system now appears weaker with an open trough forming as it approaches Washington and splitting the front. Light rain and snow should develop along the west slopes Friday morning. The period of heaviest rain and snow, along with a cooling trend, should occur Friday evening. Rain and snow showers should continue Friday night, mainly along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday Morning |
Mostly cloudy north Cascades with occasional light rain and snow. Partly cloudy central and south Cascades. Patchy valley fog. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly sunny. |
| Thursday Night |
Patchy valley fog developing overnight. High clouds increasing from the west late tonight. |
| Friday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades, otherwise cloudy with clouds lowering. |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light rain and snow becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers Friday evening. Cooling trend beginning late afternoon. |
| Friday Night |
Light rain and snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Morning |
Mostly cloudy northeast Cascades with occasional light rain and snow near the Cascade crest. Partly cloudy central and southeast Cascades. Patchy valley fog. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly sunny. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly clear with patchy valley fog developing overnight. |
| Friday Morning |
Cloudy. |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light rain and snow developing in the afternoon becoming light rain and snow showers in the evening. Cooling trend beginning late afternoon. |
| Friday Night |
Scattered light rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday |
Mostly sunny and mild. |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Mostly clear. High clouds increasing from the west late tonight. |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light rain and snow becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers Friday evening. Cooling trend beginning late afternoon. |
| Friday Night |
Light rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 7:19 AM PST Thursday, December 26, 2013
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Snow Level | 8000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 8000' | ' | 9500' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 9500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 10000' | ' | 11000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
* 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
| Sunday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
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: 7:19 AM PST Thursday, December 26, 2013
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WNW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - | --- - | W 20 - 30 | --- - | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - | --- - | W 25 - 40 | --- - | W 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - | --- - | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | W 20 - 30 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | --- - | --- - | NW 25 - 40 | --- - | NW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | W 25 - 40 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | NW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | W 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | NW 25 - 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.
Issued: 7:19 AM PST Thursday, December 26, 2013
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
The upper level ridge should rebuild offshore over the weekend. Light showers should continue along the west slopes on Saturday with little additional accumulation but snow levels should remain cool. A slight warming trend should occur Sunday and Monday. Light warm frontal precipitation may brush the Olympics and north Cascades Saturday night and Sunday with more widespread light precipitation moving into the region on Monday.
If you are interested in how this winter is faring historically, the Office of Washington State Climatologist has a nice graphing tool where you can compare your favorite mountain sites, many of them now NWAC stations, and view the current snowdepth against climatology and/or the ENSO state. This is an ENSO neutral year, and you can see how we are stacking up against other neutral years (not well). http://www.climate.washington.edu/snowdepth/
Extended Weather
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, mainly west slopes, tapering off in the afternoon.
Occasional light rain and snow Olympics and north Cascades. Mostly cloudy north, partly cloudy central and south.
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing Sunday night.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2000' - 3000' | 3500' - 5000' | |
| Sunday - Monday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 5000' | 5000' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 5000' |
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6500' |
* 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 Dec 25, 2013
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.