Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Monday
Warm frontal moisture will continue to ride over flat upper level ridging that is centered over the Pacific Northwest today. This will mean continuing light rain and snow for the north Cascades and Olympics with decreasing clouds and precipitation further south. There is a large north to south snow level gradient over our region as well, with much milder temperatures expected down in Oregon.
The frontal boundary will quickly sag south this evening, producing a period of moderate to heavy precipitation especially for the west slopes of the central Cascades. There will be a slight warming trend today. A shift from east to west winds should allow snow levels to bump up to 3500 feet for Snoqualmie Pass area this evening. A brief period of strong westerly winds should accompany the frontal passage late this afternoon and evening. Showers should continue overnight in a period of NW flow, with perhaps a convergence zone forming downwind of Vancouver Island.
The trailing longwave trough will swing through the area on Friday, keeping the air mass unstable enough to support scattered showers mainly along the west slopes of the Cascades. Weak ridging will flop over the area Friday night as we get a break between weather systems.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday Morning |
Light rain and snow north part. Partly to mostly cloudy south part. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow north part. Light rain and snow developing south part. Winds increasing. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night |
Moderate rain and snow transitioning to light to moderate showers overnight. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
| Friday |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Cooler. |
| Friday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Morning |
Periods of light rain and snow north part. Partly cloudy south part. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow north part. Light rain and snow developing south part. Winds increasing. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow transitioning to light to occasionally moderate showers overnight. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
| Friday |
Partly to cloudy with isolated light snow showers. Cooler. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday |
Partly cloudy. Mild. |
| Thursday Night |
Light rain and snow developing and transitioning to light showers late overnight. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
| Friday |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Cooler. |
| Friday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
Olympics
| Thursday Morning - Thursday Mid-day |
Light rain and snow Thursday morning becoming moderate rain and snow by mid-day. Windy. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend late. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooler. |
| Friday |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
Issued: 7:27 AM PST Thursday, December 29, 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 * | 3000' | 1500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 7500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2000' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 1500' | 500' | 0' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1500' |
| Thursday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 4500' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 7500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 500' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 0' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 500' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Mid-day |
Snow Level 7500' (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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
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: 7:27 AM PST Thursday, December 29, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SW 30 - 40 | S 15 - 25 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday | N 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | --- - | NW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Friday | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Friday | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning - Thursday | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
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 Morning | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 40 - 50 | --- - | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 | SW 50 - 60 | WSW 50 - 60 | --- - | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 50 | --- - | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday - Friday Night | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | N 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday - Friday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday - Friday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 50 |
| Friday - Friday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday - Friday Night | N 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Dec 25, 2016
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