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 & Thursday
A splitting trough will approach the coast overnight lifting light warm frontal precipitation inland and from south to north over the area. A shortwave trough in the northern branch of the jet steam currently off the northern B.C. coast will dig along the backside of the longwave trough and help kick the weak cold front through the Cascades in the late afternoon.
Out ahead of the cold front, more southerly flow will result in a modest bump up in snow levels tomorrow; 3500 to 4000 feet in the north Cascades, 4500-5000 feet from Snoqualmie Pass to Crystal/Paradise and 5500-6000 down at Mt. Hood. The heaviest precipitation should once again find it's way to Mt. Baker mainly after midnight and through the late morning on Saturday.
Snow levels will slightly lower Saturday afternoon as colder air filters in and the broad upper level trough shifts inland. Light shower activity seen Saturday afternoon should generally diminish overnight.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. More sunbreaks north Cascades. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Light rain and snow developing overnight and becoming locally moderate to heavy Mt. Baker area after midnight. Slight warming trend. Becoming windy above crest level. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Showers tapering down Saturday night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing overnight. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
Olympics
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing overnight and becoming moderate after midnight. Slight warming trend. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Showers tapering down Saturday night. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. More sunbreaks north Cascades. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Light rain and snow developing overnight. Becoming windy above crest level. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers mainly near the Cascade crest. Slow cooling trend. Showers tapering off Saturday night. |
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Friday, November 25, 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 - Friday Evening | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 4000' | 4000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.75 |
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: 2:02 PM PST Friday, November 25, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | SE 0 - 10 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 15 - 25 | ESE 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | S 10 - 20 | S 15 - 30 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | SE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | SE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Mid-day | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | SE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | SE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Mid-day | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon - 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 Afternoon | S 10 - 20 | SSW 5 - 15 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 50 - 60 | SSW 25 - 40 | SW 40 - 60 | --- - | SW 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| 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 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 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.
Issued: 2:02 PM PST Friday, November 25, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The first half of Sunday should be uneventful with NW flow aloft and mostly cloudy skies. The jet stream will have shifted south on Sunday with NW flow becoming aimed at our area. Moderate snowfall could begin as early as Sunday afternoon or may hold off until the evening. Either way there's potential for a decent shot of snow for the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood through mid-day Monday.
Showers should taper down Monday afternoon through Monday night as weak ridging builds offshore. The next system in NW flow will begin to approach the area Tuesday afternoon.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Mostly cloudy.
Light rain and snow developing over the Olympics and spreading inland Sunday afternoon.
Rain and snow transitioning to showers, heaviest along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
* 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 18, 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.