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
After a brief dry spell (about 24 hours!) the next Pacific frontal system will spread light precipitation over the area tonight. Moderate east winds at crest level for the centralwest/southwest Washington Cascades and at Snoqualmie Pass should ease tonight as the front washes out over the area. Cloud bases will continue to slowly lower through the afternoon and tonight.
The frontal system will split with the main energy going into northern California on Saturday. A moderately cool air mass will be over the region for the weekend as a stacked low pressure system slowly meanders toward Vancouver Island. Timing the shower activity this weekend will be difficult to pin down, but with southerly flow locally higher precipitation amounts are favored for the volcanoes. The snow level will edge upwards over the weekend as easterly flow eases and milder Pacific air works inland.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon |
Cloudy. Chance for a few sprinkles. Moderate east winds Crystal area/Snoqualmie Pass. |
| Friday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow increasing after midnight. |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest Mt. Baker area. |
Olympics
| Friday Afternoon |
Cloudy. Chance for a few sprinkles. |
| Friday Night |
Light rain and snow increasing after midnight. Slight warming trend. |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Afternoon |
Cloudy. Chance for a few sprinkles near the crest. |
| Friday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow increasing after midnight. |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight warming trend. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Afternoon |
Cloudy. Chance for a few sprinkles. |
| Friday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow increasing after midnight. |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, November 18, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 5500' | 4500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 6000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' (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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 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: 2:05 PM PST Friday, November 18, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 5 - 15 | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 20 - 30 | S 15 - 25 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 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 Afternoon | S 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | S 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
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: 2:05 PM PST Friday, November 18, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
The longwave trough will shift over the area Monday with lingering showers. A shortwave ridge will quickly build offshore and pass east of the Cascades Monday night. The next splitting frontal system will be on our doorstep by Tuesday afternoon. An active pattern looks to continue into the upcoming holiday weekend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Milder.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Showers decreasing Monday afternoon.
Mostly cloudy Monday night with increasing clouds Tuesday with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
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 Nov 16, 2016
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.
We are now issuing Mountain Weather Forecasts at 130 pm, 7 days a week, until we begin our usual forecast schedule. We are also issuing Weekend Snow and Avalanche Outlooks at 6 pm on Thursday until we begin our usual forecast schedule.