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 night through Wednesday
Although the Thursday night system didn't have as much moisture as anticipated, Friday night's storm will deliver. A powerful and deepening storm system tracking NE toward the Queen Charlotte Islands will pack a major punch Friday night. Heavy precipitation is arriving on the coastline late Friday afternoon as strong warm front lifts across the region, beginning late in the day. Overnight, moderate to heavy precipitation will slam the Cascades. Mt. Hood will likely be the winner in terms of precipitation with 2-2.5", while Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker will be in the 1-1.5" range, with most other NWAC stations receiving 0.5-1" of moisture. The warm front will warm temperatures 15F as it crosses the coastline so many areas will see a changeover to rain, particularly during the late evening and overnight hours, before changing back to snow at some point on Saturday. Easterly flow may insulate the passes from the warming during the evening hours, but eventually, but atmosphere will be so warm aloft that Stevens and Snoqualmie may turn to all rain before the wind shift very early Saturday morning. The easterly flow is helping to bring significant water amounts east of the Cascade crest such as in the Mission Ridge and Leavenworth areas.
On Saturday, light to occasionally moderate snow shower activity will gradually diminish during the day, where narrow bands of precipitation may be locally intense. Saturday night, further diminishing snow showers will end after midnight. On Sunday, the front stalled over southern Oregon will lift some light moisture back into northern Oregon and southern Washington as a mild trough digs off the Oregon coast.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and snow. Snow levels skyrocketing above ridge crests in the evening. Rapidly lowering snow levels 10 PM. Strong winds. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light snow showers. Decreasing moderate winds, gusting strong. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow before midnight; moderate to heavy rain and snow after midnight. Snow levels rising above Mt. Baker base around midnight. |
| Saturday | Moderate rain and snow showers early changing back to decreasing light snow showers by around 8-10 AM. Decreasing moderate to strong winds early, becoming moderate. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Light to moderate snow. Increasing moderate to strong crest-level winds. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light snow showers. Decreasing moderate to strong crest-level winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and snow early, possibly mixing with freezing rain before changing to all rain by the early morning hours for both Stevens and Snoqualmie passes. 1-5" of snow expected. Moderate easterly winds switching to westerly in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate winds becoming strong at 5,000 ft. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light snow showers, locally intense. Moderate winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday Night | Moderate to heavy snow before 10 PM, then rain mixed with snow becoming light to moderate. Moderate to strong winds. Rising, then falling snow level. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light snow showers. Moderate winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Heavy snow and rain with a snow line quickly rising to 8000 ft in the early evening hours, then gradually falling. Strong winds. |
| Saturday | Light rain and snow showers, becoming all snow. Moderate to strong winds becoming moderate. |
Issued: 2:44 PM PST Friday, January 18, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level * | 7500' | 4500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 4500' | 6000' | 8000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
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
| Friday Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 1.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 2.00 - 2.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 2.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 1.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 2.00 - 2.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 2.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 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: 2:44 PM PST Friday, January 18, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 Evening | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| 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 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 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 Evening | SW 45 - 65 |
| Friday Night | SW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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.
Issued: 2:44 PM PST Friday, January 18, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
With a trough to our south, the Pacific northwest looks cool (with freezing levels below Cascade crest level, clear and dry). This pattern will continue as the flow shifts northerly on Monday and Monday evening, but clouds and light to moderate snow will be arriving as a weak system arrives on a NW flow and crosses the PNW on Tuesday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | * |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' (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 Jan 18, 2019
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.