Issued: 11:07 AM PDT Friday, April 7, 2017
by Garth Ferber

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Tuesday

The last wave of the front that was stalled over the Northwest mid-week finally kicked the front to the east on Thursday. Showers generally decreased and ended over the Olympics and Cascades Thursday. With solar effects and a bit of a warming trend in advance of the incoming system some warmer temperatures were seen by Thursday afternoon.

It might be April but the weather pattern is more like fall!

An upper short wave and deep low pressure system will move north over the Northwest coastal waters on Friday. The low will fill from the 970 mb range to about 980 mb as it moves north about 125 miles off the Washington coast. An occluded front moved south to north over the Northwest by sunrise. The SSE flow aloft and offshore surface flow favored the volcanoes and Cascade east slopes for precipitation Friday early morning.

A lull in showers should be seen following the occluded front Friday mid morning.

Southwest flow should greatly increase and showers should ramp up by Friday midday following the upper short wave and continue into Friday night. The Thursday afternoon WRF run continued to slightly favor the volcanoes for precipitation Friday afternoon and night.

Diminishing action should be seen Saturday. A weak slightly splitting upper trough and cooler air mass should move east over the Northwest and UW west coast. Greatly decreasing WSW flow and diminishing showers should be seen over the Olympics and Cascades. The Thursday afternoon UW WRF run indicates convergence lingering  over the north Cascades near Glacier Peak Saturday afternoon and evening.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Friday Morning

Moderate showers generally becoming light. Strong shifting alpine winds.

Friday Mid-day - Friday Night

Increasing moderate occasional heavy showers heaviest west Olympics. Strong shifting alpine winds. A cooling trend.

Saturday Morning - Saturday Afternoon

Decreasing light to moderate showers heaviest west Olympics.

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Friday Morning

Moderate showers generally becoming light. Strong shifting alpine winds.

Friday Mid-day - Friday Night

Increasing moderate occasional heavy showers heaviest on the volcanoes. Strong shifting alpine winds. A cooling trend.

Saturday Morning - Saturday Afternoon

Decreasing light to moderate showers. Enhanced showers in convergence north Cascades.

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday Morning

Moderate showers generally becoming light. Strong shifting alpine winds.

Friday Mid-day - Friday Night

Increasing moderate showers. Strong shifting alpine winds. A cooling trend.

Saturday Morning - Saturday Afternoon

Decreasing light showers.

Mt. Hood Area
Friday Morning

Light showers. Strong shifting alpine winds.

Friday Mid-day - Friday Night

Increasing moderate showers. Strong shifting alpine winds. A cooling trend.

Saturday Morning - Saturday Afternoon

Decreasing light to moderate showers.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 5000' 5500' ' ' 5000' ' 5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level * 4000' 4000' 4500' ' ' 4000' ' 4000'
Friday Night Snow Level 3000' 3000' 3500' ' ' 3000' ' 3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2500' 3000' ' ' 2500' ' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 3000' 3500' ' ' 3000' ' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'

* 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

Tuesday Tuesday
Hurricane Ridge 0 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 2.00 0 - 0.75
Washington Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.75 - 1.00 LT 0.25
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0 - 0.75
White Pass 0 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30 SSE 10 - 20 SSE 20 - 30 --- - SSE 30 - 40
Friday Mid-day SSE 30 - 45 SSE 25 - 35 SSE 25 - 35 --- - SSW 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60 SSE 30 - 45 SW 30 - 45 --- - SW 40 - 60
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45 SW 30 - 45 SW 30 - 45 --- - SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 --- - SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Mid-day SSE 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Friday Mid-day SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSE 30 - 45
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Mid-day SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 45
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Mid-day --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Evening --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 30 - 40
Friday Mid-day SSW 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Mid-day SSE 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Friday Mid-day SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSE 30 - 45
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Mid-day SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 45
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Mid-day --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Evening --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 30 - 40
Friday Mid-day SSW 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SSE 30 - 45 SSE 30 - 45 SSE 40 - 60 --- - SSW 60 - 80
Friday Mid-day SSE 40 - 60 SSE 40 - 60 SSW 55 - 75 --- - SSW 50 - 70
Friday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80 SSW 50 - 70 SSW 60 - 80 --- - SSW 60 - 80
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 --- - SW 40 - 60
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 25 - 35 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 30 - 45
Friday Mid-day SSE 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 30 - 45
Friday Mid-day SSE 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon SSW 50 - 70
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 40 - 60
Friday Mid-day SSW 55 - 75
Friday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Mid-day --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Evening --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 60 - 80
Friday Mid-day SSW 50 - 70
Friday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 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 Apr 7, 2017

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.

Corrected synopsis 11:10 am.