Issued: 2:44 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Saturday

A low pressure embedded in NW flow near the Alaska Panhandle will drop SSE, forcing Thursday's high-pressure ridge southeastward as it moves. Increasing cloud cover will replace the clear skies in advance of the system with very light snow developing in the Olympics and North Cascades by Friday morning. Snow will increase until a front passes from Friday around mid-day in the Olympics until the early evening hours near Mt. Hood. Expect a period of moderate snow as the front passes. The winds appear to be the more significant event than the snowfall with moderate to strong winds associated with the frontal passage.

Convergence zones will likely form during the late afternoon and evening hours. Bands of heavier convergence (possibly near Snoqualmie) are likely to produce greater amounts of snowfall than with the original frontal passage. A cold upper trough will spin off the coast Friday night and Saturday and will continue instability snow showers under modest westerly flow aloft as it approaches Washington State. Temperatures will cool behind the front and snow levels will be only 500-1000 ft above sea level once the upper trough settles into place. Snowfall during this period will generally be light.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering and thickening by morning. Cool. Light winds gusting moderate by morning.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering and thickening by morning. Cool. Light winds gusting moderate by morning.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering by morning. Cool. Light winds gusting moderate by morning.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering and thickening by morning. Cool. Light east winds at the pass, light west wind at 5000 ft.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering and thickening by morning. Cool. Light winds gusting moderate by morning.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Increasing high clouds, lowering by morning. Cool. Light winds gusting moderate by morning.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Freezing Level * 2500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level * 2000' 500' 0' 0' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 1500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 500' 500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Friday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2500'
Friday Night Snow Level 1000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 1000' 500' 0' 0' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday 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 Night Saturday Saturday Night Saturday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0.50
White Pass 0 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
0 0.25 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
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 25 - 35 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Elevation
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 Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
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 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 Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 20 - 30
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
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 Evening NW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
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 Evening N 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 25
Friday Morning W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon W 50 - 70

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

On Saturday night the snow shower activity will continue with the upper trough moving over Washington State on Sunday, decreasing westerly flow over Washington State and also associated snow shower activity. Slightly heavier snowfall totals can be expected in the south than the north under stronger westerly flow.

A north-south temperature gradient and an associated warm front will form over Oregon Sunday night and Monday with a system forming along this frontal boundary likely to impact the southern parts (or potentially all) of the forecast region on Monday as it moves ENE. This system may bring heavier snow and wind. This system may bring some slight warming to the Mt. Hood area, but snowfall is still expected at this time.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 1000' - 2000' *
Sunday Snow Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 1000' - 2000' *
Sunday Night Snow Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 1000' - 2000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(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 Feb 21, 2019

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