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 night through Friday
Post-frontal showers continue to wind down this afternoon and should taper off completely in the early evening. A strong upper level ridge will rebuild offshore Wednesday night and become the dominant weather feature for the next several days.
Some low-level moisture/clouds will likely be trapped along the west slopes of the Cascades Thursday under the ridge. While cloudier conditions are expected along central-west and northwest Cascades, afternoon cloud cover should decrease for areas further south including the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. The east slopes of the Cascades should enjoy mostly sunny skies on Thursday. Freezing levels will be on the rise in general, but will make for a tricky forecast with warm air struggling to make inroads for the north and central Cascades. Higher freezing levels are a better bet over the Olympics and the Mt. Hood area.
A dry shortwave trough passing through in NW flow aloft will temporarily flatten the ridge and bring an increase in mid and high level clouds Thursday night. On Friday, the upper level ridge will quickly rebuild, but we will left in a repeat scenario with the central and north Cascades struggling to take advantage of the warmer air to the west and south. Also, NW alpine winds will become moderate to strong following the trough's passage on Friday.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday Night | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Thursday | Partly sunny. Warming trend. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday Night | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday Night | Partly cloudy. |
| Thursday | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy. Chance of evening light rain or snow showers. |
| Thursday | Cloudy in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy. |
| Thursday | Cloudy in the morning becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday Night | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
Issued: 2:29 PM PST Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 2500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 6000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 7500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 4000' | 4500' | 7500' | 9000' |
| Thursday Evening | Freezing Level | 7500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 4000' | 4500' | 7500' | 9000' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 7500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6500' | 9000' |
| Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 7500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6500' | 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 9000' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 8000' | 10000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
* 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 Night | Friday | Friday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Friday | 0 |
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: 2:29 PM PST Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 0 - 10 | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
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 Evening | NW 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 30 - 40 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 30 - 40 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 | NW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 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.
Issued: 2:29 PM PST Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
The ridge of high pressure will shift closer to coast Friday night and Saturday and freezing levels will soar into the 9000-11000 ft range under mostly clear skies. An upper level trough upstream in NW flow will approach the area on Sunday. The bulk of the energy associated with this weather system will stay east of the Rockies, but some light precipitation is expected to reach the north and central Cascades. The trough will also knock snow/freezing levels down towards the end of the weekend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 8500' - 9500' | 9000' - 10000' | 10000' - 11000' | |
| Saturday | Freezing Level | 10500' - 11500' | 10500' - 11500' | 11000' - 12000' | |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 8000' - 9000' | 9500' - 10500' | 10500' - 11500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 4000' - 6000' | 4000' - 6000' | 6000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' - 10000' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 11000' - 12000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 6000' - 8000' |
* 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 23, 2019
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