Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Wednesday
Afternoon update: Day 1 Precipitation Forecasts lowered across the board except for the Olympics and Mt. Baker
A north-south frontal boundary has hung up over western Washington today. The axis of heavier precipitation will be focused on the northwest Cascades and Olympics with lighter amounts of precipitation expected further south and east. The frontal axis has failed to advance eastward today, such that precipitation forecasts have been lowered for the central and south Washington Cascades where mainly dry conditions have prevailed. Easterly flow this morning caused locally lower snow levels at Stevens Pass where light wet snow mixed down to Pass level. Temperatures have pushed into the mid 30s at Stevens Pas this afternoon.
An upper level trough will finally shift the frontal boundary inland Thursday morning, spreading moderate rain and snow further inland and affecting the east slopes of the Cascades. Post-frontal showers should be on the lighter side Thursday afternoon, except for locally moderate showers in the Mt. Baker area.
After a lull in the precipitation Thursday evening, a deepening low pressure system well off the Oregon Coast will spread increasing rain and snow over the region early Friday morning. Alpine winds will remain moderate over the short term. Snow levels will generally oscillate between 4500-5500 feet over the short term with slightly higher snow levels down at Mt. Hood.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Wednesday - Thursday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy overnight. Light rain and snow developing after midnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow, except occasionally moderate northwest Cascades. |
| Thursday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers, except mostly cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers northwest Cascades. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy overnight. Light rain and snow developing after midnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night |
Cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Partly cloudy. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy overnight. Light rain and snow developing after midnight. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night |
Cloudy. Periods of very light rain or snow. |
| Thursday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight. |
Issued: 3:07 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5500' | 5000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 7000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | Snow Level | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
* 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
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: 3:07 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 | S 15 - 30 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 | SE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | ESE 0 - 10 | --- - | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 | E 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | S 25 - 35 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 35 - 45 | --- - | SSW 45 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 45 - 60 |
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: 3:07 PM PDT Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
The strong low pressure system located off the WA/OR border Friday morning should track due north off of Vancouver Island Friday afternoon. This should cause increasing rain and snow that will once again favor the south slopes of the Olympics and Washington Cascades volcanoes for the heaviest precipitation, especially Mt. Baker. After a warm front lifts through in the morning, a vigorous shortwave should come through in the afternoon, with heavier showers likeliest for the northwest Cascades and Olympics. Strong offshore flow with the warm front may locally lower snow levels to Pass level Friday morning.
A series of waves should rotate through the area Friday night and Saturday with weak upper level troughing shifting inland. This cooler air mass will help keep conditions unsettled and showery on Saturday although there should be sunbreaks further east of the Cascade crest along the east slopes. Showers will finally diminish late Saturday night into Sunday morning. However a weak Pacific frontal system offshore will approach the Washington Coast in the afternoon on Sunday. While steadier precipitation may hold off over the Cascades during the day, mid and high level cloud cover should increase as the front approaches Sunday afternoon.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow transitioning to moderate showers late morning Olympics and northwest Cascades. Light to occasionally rain and snow transitioning to light to occasionally moderate showers late morning elsewhere, except very light at Mt. Hood. Windy. Slow cooling trend.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers Olympics, west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers east slopes of the Cascades. Cooler.
Mostly cloudy with decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Cloudy. Rain and snow developing Olympics.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5500' | 4500' - 6000' | |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3500' - 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.
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 5, 2017
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