Issued: 7:11 AM PDT Friday, April 5, 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 Friday & Wednesday

The Pacific Northwest is experiencing a series of shortwave systems is impacting the region as they rotate around a parent low in the north Pacific. The first shortwave is exiting the North Cascades on Friday morning where it is bringing some light rain and high elevation snow. A second, more powerful system is already bringing rain and snow showers to SW Washington and northern Oregon which will continue to increase as the front crosses the region during the afternoon hours. Southerly flow aloft will favor the volcanoes where more than 0.5" of snow water is forecast on Friday. An easterly component to the flow at low levels means that the east slopes of the Cascades will get 0.25" of water or so during the day. Snow levels will be 5000-5500 ft and winds will increase and peak with the frontal passage. There is enough instability with this front that we expect scattered thunderstorms, particularly on the east slopes of the Cascades which could produce small hail.

The frontal rainband will exit the region during the evening hours, ushering in lowering snow levels on a SW flow. Mostly light cattered shower activity is expected to linger in the Olympics and West Slopes of the Cascades, particularly in the Mt. Baker area where convergence is possible through the evening hours.

Winds should turn southerly ahead of a weakening low tracking toward Vancouver Island on Saturday. This should bring moderate and substantial snow to many areas at lower snow levels. At this time the strength and timing and locations of heaviest precipitation are still highly uncertain.

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

Precipitation Forecast

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30 SSE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35 S 25 - 35 SSE 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SSW 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 30 - 45 ESE 15 - 25 ESE 15 - 25 ESE 20 - 30 S 30 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 15 - 25
Saturday Morning ESE 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SSE 35 - 50
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon ESE 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 15 - 25
Saturday Morning ESE 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SSE 35 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSE 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon ESE 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SE 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning S 25 - 35 S 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 30 - 45 SW 35 - 50 WSW 45 - 65
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30 SW 30 - 45 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 35 - 50
Friday Night SW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SSW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30 SSE 20 - 30 S 30 - 45 S 40 - 60 SSW 50 - 70
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SSW 35 - 50
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30
Friday Night SW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon S 35 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Friday Evening SW 30 - 45
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon S 30 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SSW 30 - 45
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning S 30 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SSW 45 - 65
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning S 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 50
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 60
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning S 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon SSW 45 - 65
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 45 - 65
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Friday Night SSW 30 - 45
Saturday Morning SSW 50 - 70
Saturday Afternoon SW 50 - 70

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 Apr 4, 2019

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