Issued: 6:48 AM PST Thursday, February 21, 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 Thursday & Saturday

A cool high pressure is shifting SE on a NW flow, bring sunny weather with light winds to the region on Thursday. The ridge axis will be over Washington State Thursday afternoon and evening. Freezing levels will rise during the day to 2000 ft or so and drop to near sea level at night.

High clouds are expected to lower and thicken Thursday night ahead of a system dropping down the west coast of Canada. We expect the frontal snow band to be relatively short-lived producing modest snow totals (generally 3-6") as it passes through the end of the day Friday. Snow is expected to increase during the morning hours in the Olympics and North Cascades, spreading SE during the afternoon and evening through the rest of the region. The bulk of the snow should hold off in the Mt. Hood area until late in the day. Models predict convergence developing behind the front in the late afternoon. As a result, snowfall rates may be locally heavy in the I-90 corridor or just south of Mt. Baker. Winds are expected to be the highest impact with this storm and will peak Friday afternoon with the frontal passage in the moderate to strong range and will be strongest near Mt. Hood.

Snow levels will rise slightly as the front approaches but will remain below pass level and below seasonal norms.

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
Thursday Morning Freezing Level * 1000' 500' 0' 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 2000' 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 1500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 0'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning NNE 5 - 15 ENE 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ENE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35 SSE 20 - 30 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning NNE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning E 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Morning E 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning ENE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NNE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning E 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning E 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning ENE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Evening SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 45

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 N 10 - 20 NNW 5 - 15 N 5 - 15 N 10 - 20 NNE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 10 - 20 NNW 10 - 20 NNE 15 - 25
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25 NW 15 - 25 N 10 - 20
Thursday Night WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 WNW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 W 30 - 45 W 30 - 45 W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning N 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning N 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Evening NW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning N 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon NNW 10 - 20
Thursday Evening NW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NNE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon NNE 15 - 25
Thursday Evening N 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 25
Friday Morning W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 35 - 50

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 Feb 20, 2019

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