Issued: 8:13 AM PDT Friday, April 22, 2016
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Friday

An upper level low pressure system off the California and Oregon coast will rotate upper level shortwaves up and through the area today, which will translate into bands of showers across the area. The most organized bands will be along the coast and affect the Olympics this morning. Shower activity over the Cascades will fill in this afternoon with the air mass overhead becoming unstable. Showers that fire up over the east slopes should drift N-NW. Isolated thunderstorm activity can't be ruled out along the east slopes and may drift over the Cascade crest. Snow levels will begin high this morning and slowly lower through the day as the upper low drift closer. 

Shower activity should wane late tonight and into tomorrow morning.  There should be more cloud cover along the Olympics and west slopes Saturday morning with weak onshore flow. Some light showers are possible during the day, but a more organized frontal band will approach the coast Saturday afternoon and move inland Saturday night. Cloud cover should increase Saturday night.  Snow levels will lower more dramatically behind the front Saturday night.   

Weather Forecast

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Friday - Friday Evening

Partly to mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible near the crest in the afternoon.  Slight cooling trend. 

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

Olympics
Friday - Friday Evening

Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday - Friday Evening

Partly to mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible in the afternoon.  

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

Saturday

Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with scattered light rain and snow showers. 

Mt. Hood Area
Friday - Friday Evening

Partly to mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible in the afternoon.  Slight cooling trend. 

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Snow Level 7000' 8000' 8500' ' ' 8000' ' 7500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 7000' 7500' 8000' ' ' 7000' ' 6500'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 5500' 6000' 6500' ' ' 5500' ' 5500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
8500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Night - Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday 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

Friday Friday
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 1.00
0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 1.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning NE 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 SW 10 - 20 --- - W 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15 --- - W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SW 10 - 20 --- - WSW 20 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning NE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WNW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning ESE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 35
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning NE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WNW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning ESE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 35
Saturday Night W 10 - 20

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
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SE 20 - 30 --- - S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15 SSE 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning W 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 --- - NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 15 - 25 --- - W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

Another cold upper level low will approach the Washington Coast on Sunday. Mostly cloudy skies with cool snow levels and showers should sum up Sunday. The low will open up and shift over the Intermountain West with a open trough over the PNW Monday continuing the cool conditions, with cloudier skies along the west slopes and Olympics. Marginal improvement is possible Tuesday but another frontal system is approaching the coast by Tuesday afternoon, likely limiting the clearing and warming trend. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Sunday - Monday

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers Olympics, west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated rain and snow showers east slopes of the Cascades. Cooler. 

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon Olympics. Slight chance of an afternoon shower everywhere. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday - Monday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday - Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday - Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday - Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday 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 Apr 14, 2016

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