Issued: 6:59 AM PST Friday, January 18, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday

Showers will decrease on Friday through the early afternoon as a weakening shortwave trough moves eastward, diminishing light shower activity will largely focus on the west slopes in the north and central parts of the Cascades. Winds will decrease early in the morning.

Most areas will see a very brief break in the action before a powerful and deepening storm system tracking NE toward the Queen Charlotte Islands lifts a strong warm front across the region, beginning late in the day. The warm front will warm temperatures 15F as it crosses the coastline. Moderate to occasionally heavy precipitation will reach Mt. Hood during the late afternoon and will spread throughout the Cascades east and west slopes Friday night. Overnight, the Cascade volcanoes will receive 1-2" of snow water equivalent out of this storm, with Mt. Hood the winner.  Moderate to strong sustained winds are expected and will gradually decrease on Saturday. Easterly flow will insulate the passes from the warming for much of the night, but eventually, a wind shift will bump snow levels by Saturday morning. The easterly flow will also favor significant water amounts east of the Cascade crest such as in the Mission Ridge and Leavenworth areas.

On Saturday, light to moderate rain and snow shower activity will diminish during the morning hours, lingering mostly north of Snoqualmie Pass in the afternoon.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

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 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level * 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level * 5000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500'
Friday Night Snow Level * 7500' 5000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 5000' 6000' 8000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 4000' 4500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 5000' 6500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth 0 0.50 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.50 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.75 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.75 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.75 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 1.50 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 0.75 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 1.50 - 2.00 LT 0.25
0.50 2.00 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.25
Friday Night 1.50
Saturday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Saturday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 2.00
Saturday 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SE 25 - 35 SE 15 - 25 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 15 - 25 SSE 25 - 35
Friday Evening S 35 - 50 ESE 25 - 35 ESE 25 - 35 SSE 25 - 35 SSW 30 - 45
Friday Night SW 30 - 45 SSW 30 - 45 SW 35 - 50 SW 25 - 35 SW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35 SW 30 - 45 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning S 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Friday Evening S 35 - 50
Friday Night SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning S 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Friday Evening ESE 25 - 35
Friday Night SSW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Friday Evening ESE 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Friday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 30 - 45
Friday Night SW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Friday Evening S 35 - 50
Friday Night SW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Friday Evening ESE 25 - 35
Friday Night SSW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Friday Evening ESE 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Friday Evening SSE 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 30 - 45
Friday Night SW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon 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
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 SSW 30 - 45 SW 50 - 70
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60 SW 35 - 50 SW 45 - 65 SW 45 - 65 WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night SSW 45 - 65 SW 45 - 65 SW 50 - 70 SW 50 - 70 SW 55 - 75
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 45 SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 SW 60 - 80
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 40 - 60
Friday Night SSW 45 - 65
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon WSW 30 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 35 - 50
Friday Night SW 45 - 65
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon WSW 35 - 50
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 45 - 65
Friday Night SW 50 - 70
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40 - 60
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SSW 30 - 45
Friday Evening SW 45 - 65
Friday Night SW 50 - 70
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon WSW 35 - 50
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 50 - 70
Friday Evening WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night SW 55 - 75
Saturday Morning SW 60 - 80
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40 - 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.

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

Previous forecast from Jan 17, 2019

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