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 & Tuesday
A Pacific frontal system has turned on the moisture tap this morning... with heavier than expected precipitation for the south and central Cascades resulting in up to a foot of snow late Wednesday night through early Thursday morning. Precipitation forecasts have been increased for today along the west slopes from Stevens south to Paradise as well.
Snow levels are still forecast to rise significantly with this system as it stalls along the coast, becomes north-south oriented and strong SW winds aloft pump warmer air into the region. Snow levels will rise to 6500-8000 feet from north to south from Mt. Baker down to Mt. Hood. Easterly winds will delay the warming in the Cascade Passes with a potential window of mixed precipitation including freezing rain this morning through mid-day before they also see rain. The east slopes will also see a delayed warming... with the northeast Cascades snow levels peaking Thursday night.
The front will slowly push through early Friday morning. Post frontal showers should be heaviest near Mt. Baker with showers everywhere tapering off by late afternoon and evening. A slow cooling trend will ensue during the day Friday.
A low pressure system around 130 W and off the OR/CA coast Friday afternoon will track inland Friday night. Light rain and snow should develop by daybreak Saturday for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades, while areas further north may only see an increase in mid and high clouds.
Weather Forecast
Olympics and north Cascades
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Stormy with heavy rain and snow. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Night |
Moderate rain and snow. |
| Friday |
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers, especially Mt. Baker. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Increasing high clouds late Friday night. |
central and south Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Stormy with moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy. Warming trend. Freezing rain possible Cascade Passes Thursday morning through mid-day. |
| Thursday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Mild. |
| Friday |
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers easing in the afternoon. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Increasing high clouds Friday night with light rain and snow developing late Friday night. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Stormy with light to moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy northeast Cascades. Slow warming trend. Freezing rain possible lower east slopes and valleys Thursday morning through mid-day. |
| Thursday Night |
Light rain and snow. |
| Friday |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers easing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy. Increasing high clouds Friday night with light rain and snow developing late Friday night south and central east Cascades. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Warming trend. |
| Friday |
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers easing in the afternoon. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Increasing high clouds with light rain and snow developing Friday night. |
Issued: 7:29 AM PST Thursday, January 21, 2016
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 * | 7000' | 4500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 7000' |
| Thursday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 7500' | 6000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 7500' | 6500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 8000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level * | 6500' | 6500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 7000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' | 5000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 6000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (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
| Tuesday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 1.00 - 2.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 4.00 - 6.00 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 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: 7:29 AM PST Thursday, January 21, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | S 15 - 25 | SSE 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 | S 30 - 40 | SSE 20 - 35 | --- - | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 30 | S 20 - 30 | --- - | S 15 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 | SE 0 - 10 | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSE 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 50 - 60 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 50 - 60 | --- - | SW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 | SSW 25 - 35 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 30 | --- - | SSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSW 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: 7:29 AM PST Thursday, January 21, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
As the low tracks to the eastern part of Oregon on Saturday, a quick flip to NW flow aloft should produce a period of light to moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest along the west slopes, through early Sunday morning along with a cooling trend.
A weak front is forecast to stall and break up along the coast Sunday...perhaps only bringing light precipitation to the Olympics. Monday should be a break between weather systems with only a few lingering mountain showers.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate Mt. Hood and south Washington Cascades.
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, except moderate west slopes and Mt. Hood Saturday afternoon and evening. Cooling trend.
Cloudy with light rain and snow Olympics, chance of light rain and snow Cascades and Mt. Hood.
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5500' | 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
* 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 20, 2016
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