Issued: 2:26 PM PDT Wednesday, April 3, 2019
by Dennis D'Amico

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 Wednesday

Scattered showers leftover from a front that moved through the Cascades mid-day will diminish quickly overnight with the exception of the Mt. Baker area where showers will hang on through at least midnight. A weak shortwave trough off the Oregon/California coast will rotate up a few bands of light precipitation for the Mt. Hood area and perhaps the south Washington Cascades Thursday afternoon. Some filtered sunshine through high clouds is expected further north with sunnier conditions expected for much of the day over the north Cascades. Post-frontal cooling that occurs Wednesday night will be short lived; freezing levels will quickly bounce back to about 7000' Thursday afternoon.

After the weak upper level trough passes through Thursday night with generally light precipitation expected, a deep upper level low in the NE Pacific and a strong westerly jet will begin to send a series of Pacific frontal systems into the Pacific Northwest beginning late Thursday night. The system that arrives on Friday will do so in southerly flow, spreading light to moderate amount of precipitation along with windy conditions to both sides of the Cascades with snow levels around 5000'.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers in the evening then becoming partly cloudy.
Mt. Baker
Wednesday Night Light to occasionally moderate showers in the evening decreasing and becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest in the evening then becoming partly cloudy.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Moderate west wind at Pass level becoming light after midnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the evening then becoming partly cloudy with periods of high clouds.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the evening then becoming cloudy.

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' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 5500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 6000'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level 6500' 7000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
5500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10

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 SW 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning SW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

The next pair of frontal systems to impact the PNW over the weekend and through Monday have the potential to be stronger. There is poor confidence in the timing of individual weather systems. Regarding strength, the GFS continues to indicate a stronger winter-like system for Saturday night while the Canadian and European models indicate a stronger system toward the end of the weekend. While the details are up in the air, we can say it will be a wet and potentially stormy weekend with cooler snow levels on the northerly side of the storm track (Washington State). 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000'
Saturday Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000' 5000' - 6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Saturday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Saturday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Saturday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Sunday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'

* 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 Apr 3, 2019

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