Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Wednesday
An upper level shortwave is finally kicking out a stalled frontal boundary, lifting a shield of precipitation NE across the Olympics and Cascades this morning. Partial clearing is expected this afternoon for the Olympics, central and south Cascades including Mt. Hood while clouds and showers should linger in the northwest Cascades. Snow levels will once again oscillate between 4500-5500 feet today with slightly higher snow levels expected this afternoon at Mt. Hood.
A stronger low pressure system will develop overnight off the Oregon Coast and track offshore toward Vancouver Island on Friday. This storm system will bring increasing winds, first moderate E-SE winds at crest level and through the Cascade Passes late Thursday night through Friday morning and then followed by strong post-frontal S-SW winds Friday mid-day through the afternoon. After a brief break in the action this evening, warm front will lift north late tonight, spreading light to moderate precipitation across the area, including to the east slopes of the Cascades. A vigorous shortwave rotating out of the low pressure system will bring increasing showers in the afternoon and evening on Friday. The southerly component to the flow Thursday night and Friday will favor the Olympic and Washington volcanoes for heavier precipitation, with much lighter amounts expected in the Cascade Passes and Mt. Hood. Easterly flow Friday morning may locally lower snow levels to near Pass level, but precipitation should be fairly light. Snow levels will slowly drop during the day Friday and lower further Friday night.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers Mt. Baker area. Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers central-west and southwest Cascades. |
| Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing overnight, becoming occasionally moderate south Washington Cascades. Increasing winds. |
| Friday |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming moderate rain and snow showers during the morning, heaviest showers Mt. Baker area. Becoming very windy. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday Morning |
Light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Light rain and snow developing in the evening, becoming occasionally moderate after midnight. Increasing alpine winds. |
| Friday |
Light rain and snow becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers during the morning. Becoming very windy. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
Olympics
| Thursday Morning |
Cloudy with light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing overnight. |
| Friday |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming moderate rain and snow showers during the morning. Becoming very windy. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Morning |
Light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing overnight, becoming occasionally moderate southeast and central-east Washington Cascades. Increasing winds. |
| Friday |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers during the morning. Becoming very windy. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
Issued: 7:42 AM PDT Thursday, April 6, 2017
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 | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | Snow Level * | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 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: 7:42 AM PDT Thursday, April 6, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 | SSE 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 | S 10 - 20 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 | E 10 - 20 | E 15 - 25 | --- - | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | S 25 - 35 | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 20 - 30 | --- - | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 45 | S 35 - 45 | S 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 | S 15 - 25 | SSW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | S 25 - 40 | S 25 - 35 | S 40 - 50 | --- - | SSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 55 - 65 | SSW 30 - 40 | SW 55 - 70 | --- - | SW 70 - 90 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | S 25 - 40 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | S 55 - 65 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | S 40 - 50 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SW 55 - 70 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Afternoon | SW 70 - 90 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
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.
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Previous forecast from Apr 5, 2017
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