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 & Sunday
A quick moving frontal system in strong westerly flow produced about 10-12 inches of snow along the north and central Cascades of Washington Thursday night. Less snow was seen in the Olympics, the south Washington Cascades, Mt. Hood and below about 4000 feet for the central Cascades due to a period of rain Thursday evening.
A longwave trough axis oriented E-W over Washington Friday morning will slide south later this morning with weak ridging building into British Columbia. The PNW should see a drying trend with a healthy does of sunshine and steady cold temperatures expected this afternoon.
A quick moving system upstream in NW flow will slide toward the area on Saturday, spreading light snowfall over the Olympics and north and central Cascades by early afternoon.
A light to moderate shot of snowfall should come Saturday night as the front quickly sweeps south and a cold upper trough begins to dig off the Washington coast.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Mostly clear. |
| Saturday Morning |
Increasing clouds. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Light snow developing by late morning with winds increasing. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. Isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Morning |
Increasing clouds north part. Mostly sunny south and central Washington Cascades. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Light snow north and central Washington Cascades. Becoming cloudy south Washington Cascades. Alpine winds increasing beginning mid-day. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Mostly clear. |
| Saturday Morning |
Increasing clouds north part. Mostly sunny south and central Washington Cascades. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Light snow developing north and central Washington Cascades. Becoming cloudy south Washington Cascades. Alpine winds increasing beginning mid-day. |
| Saturday Night |
Light snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Mostly clear. |
| Saturday Morning - Saturday Mid-day |
Mostly sunny. Milder. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly cloudy with light snow developing late. Alpine winds increasing. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
Issued: 1:57 PM PST Friday, December 30, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 500' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 2000' |
| Saturday Mid-day | Snow Level | 2500' | 1000' | 500' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 1500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 0' | ' | 1000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
* 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
| Sunday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 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: 1:57 PM PST Friday, December 30, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | N 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | --- - | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | W 20 - 30 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 15 - 30 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | NE 10 - 20 | NE 10 - 20 | NW 0 - 10 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | NE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | NE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | NE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | NE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 20 - 30 |
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 | N 10 - 20 | N 15 - 25 | N 10 - 20 | --- - | NNE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 30 | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 50 | --- - | WNW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | NE 20 - 30 | NE 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 30 | --- - | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | NE 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | N 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | NE 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | W 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | NW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | NNE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 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: 1:57 PM PST Friday, December 30, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
The cold upper level trough will slowly dig off the Oregon/California coast through Tuesday. A clearing trend should begin on Sunday from north to south as drier air works into the region. Areas closer to the upper trough like the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood will see more cloud cover and snow showers through Sunday.
The upper level pattern combined with strong high pressure sliding south along the Canadian Rockies will drive arctic air into the PNW including the west slopes and Olympics. The coldest air begins filtering into the north Cascades and Olympics Sunday afternoon and is firmly entrenched throughout the PNW by Monday morning. Moderate NE alpine winds for the far north Cascades on Sunday will shift to the central and south Cascades on Monday with to moderate to strong easterly winds. Brrr.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Clearing north and central west Cascades. Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers Olympics, east slopes of the Cascades. Cloudy with light snow showers Mt. Hood. Moderate NE alpine wind far north Cascades.
Very cold. Mostly clear west slopes and Olympics. Mostly cloudy east slopes and Mt. Hood with scattered light snow showers. Moderate E winds central and south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood.
Very cold and mostly sunny.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday | Freezing Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 0' - 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 0' - 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 0' - 0' (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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Dec 30, 2016
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