Issued: 2:58 PM PDT Thursday, April 4, 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 area in the north Pacific is spawning a series of shortwave troughs that will impact our region. The first is relatively weak and will bring moisture up from the south out ahead of it tonight, with the volcanoes favored for rain and snow with amounts up to about 0.5" of snow water equivalent and snow levels 5500-6000 ft.

Storminess should increase tomorrow as the second feature brings increased rain/snow and moderate to occasionally strong southerly winds as it crosses the region on Friday afternoon with virtually with only a slight let-up in precipitation between disturbances. This system will come in on a cooling trend with snow levels dropping to near pass level by Saturday morning. 

Moving into the future, the models have a significant disagreement in the timing and strength of the weather systems. What we can say is that we expect periods of moderate to strong winds, low elevation rain, significant mountain snow in some areas, and fluctuating snow levels. Disturbances are likely to arrive on SW flow Saturday, but it's strength and the associated moisture varies greatly from model to model

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Increasing very light to light rain and snow. Mild. Light increasing to moderate wind.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Very light rain and high elevation snow arriving by morning. Mild. Increasing light to moderate wind.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Increasing mid and high-level clouds, lowering and thickening with very light rain and snow arriving from the south by morning. Mild. Light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with light rain and high elevation snow arriving in the overnight hours. Light E wind at pass level and light to moderate winds increasing at 5000 ft.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with increasing light rain and snow, heaviest at Paradise Light to moderate winds increasing at 5000 ft.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Increasing moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Snow Level * 5500' 6000' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000'
Thursday Night Snow Level * 5500' 6000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000'
Friday Morning Snow Level * 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level 3500' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 4000'
Friday Night Snow Level 3500' 3000' 2500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening SSE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 S 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 20 - 30 SE 20 - 30 ESE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning S 20 - 30 SSE 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 20 - 30
Friday Morning S 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Night SE 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Night ESE 10 - 20
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSE 10 - 20
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening S 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 20 - 30
Friday Morning S 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Night SE 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Night ESE 10 - 20
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSE 10 - 20
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35

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 SSE 15 - 25 SSE 5 - 15 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 20 - 30 S 10 - 20 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SSW 35 - 50
Friday Morning S 30 - 45 S 15 - 25 SSW 25 - 35 SSW 25 - 35 SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSE 15 - 25
Thursday Night S 20 - 30
Friday Morning S 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon S 35 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSE 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night S 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSW 30 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night S 20 - 30
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSW 40 - 60
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SSW 35 - 50
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 40 - 60

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

The issues of timing and uncertainty with the storm systems continue. Saturday night will bring another active storm system with a warming trend. Subtropical moisture may make it into the southern parts of the forecast area on Sunday, with the potential for significant rainfall to higher elevations in some areas as a front may stall over northern Oregon. Models tend to agree that a trough will move onshore with more unsettled and slightly cooler (near normal) temperatures by Monday afternoon.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 3000' - 5000' 3500' - 5500' 4500' - 6500'
Sunday Snow Level 3000' - 5000' 3500' - 5500' 4500' - 6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 3000' - 5000' 4000' - 6000' 4000' - 6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000' - 5000'
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000' - 5000'
Monday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500' - 5500'
Sunday Snow Level
3500' - 5500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000' - 6000'
Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500' - 6500'
Sunday Snow Level
4500' - 6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000' - 6000'
Monday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'

* 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 4, 2019

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