Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Thursday
An upper level low in the Northeast Pacific continues to steer frontal systems into the Pacific Northwest, with fronts passing through our area about every day.
Today's frontal system has already spread mid and high cloud cover over the area and light precipitation has begun over the Olympics and Mt. Hood. After the frontal passage early this afternoon, light to moderate showers in SW flow should favor Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier with heavier precipitation. Snow levels will once again vary along the west slopes, with the Cascade Passes staying cool through late this evening, while areas further west will see a bump up during the day. Mt. Baker snow levels are expected to bump up mid-day to 4000-4500 feet, while Crystal/Paradise snow levels will also rise to 4000-4500 feet but during the afternoon. A snow level rise to 3500-4000 feet is possible in the Cascade Passes late this evening or early overnight with a few hours of westerly flow.
A trailing upper level shortwave trough should pass through late Sunday night continuing the shower activity, mainly along the west slopes. A transitory upper level ridge should move overhead on Monday, beginning a short-lived drying trend, although skies should remain mostly cloudy. Yet another weak front will pass through Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Sunday |
Light to moderate rain and snow developing this morning and becoming light to moderate showers early in the afternoon. Warming trend away from the Cascade Passes. Moderate to occasionally heavier showers Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier this afternoon. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight warming trend Cascade Passes overnight with switch to west winds. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow becoming light showers late Monday night. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing this morning and becoming light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow becoming light showers late Monday night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming moderate showers early in the afternoon. Slight cooling trend late in the day. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow. |
Olympics
| Sunday |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers mid-day. Cooling trend in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds early in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow becoming light showers Monday night. |
Issued: 7:24 AM PST Sunday, January 17, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level * | 5500' | 3000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Sunday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 5500' | 4000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 6000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level * | 3500' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 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: 7:24 AM PST Sunday, January 17, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 | S 15 - 30 | SE 20 - 30 | --- - | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday | S 5 - 15 | S 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | S 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | SE 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | S 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday | SE 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 | S 25 - 35 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 15 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Night | SSW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
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: 7:24 AM PST Sunday, January 17, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
A low pressure system should develop off the CA/OR coast Tuesday and lift NE over Oregon during the day. Forecast models differ wildly for storm track and precipitation amounts on Tuesday, with the potential for heavy precipitation at Mt. Hood with only light amounts further north over Washington state.
A brief shot of NW flow aloft with the trailing trough passing through should deliver a brief period of moderate showers mainly along west slopes Tuesday night before showers taper down during the day Wednesday as another weak upper level ridge builds over the area.
On Thursday a strong frontal system should impact the PNW, potentially pumping in warmer air along the west slopes away from the Cascade Passes. Phew!
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Cloudy with light rain and snow Olympics and Washington Cascades. Moderate to possibly heavy rain and snow Mt. Hood.
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, except moderate along the west slopes of the Cascades.
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers.
Moderate rain and snow developing Olympics and spreading inland overnight. Warming trend Olympics, Mt. Hood and west slopes of the Cascades away from the Passes.
Moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy along the west slopes Thursday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2000' - 3000' | 3500' - 4500' | * |
| Wednesday - Wednesday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | * |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 6000' - 7000' | * |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 5500' - 6500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday - Wednesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday - Wednesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday - Wednesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' (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 16, 2016
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