Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday
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
| Friday | Scattered showers early and late in the day with sustained light to moderate rain and snow from late morning through mid-afternoon. Moderate to strong winds peaking in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday | Light rain or snow early, then cloudy. Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow during the late afternoon. Increasing moderate winds gusting strong. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday | Periods of light rain or snow early, then scattered showers, with light to moderate rain and snow increasing late in the day. Chance of a thunderstorm with the potential for small hail, particularly in the afternoon. Increasing moderate winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday | Cloudy in the morning with scattered showers. Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon with chances of thunderstorms which may contain small hail. Increasing moderate winds gusting strong in the afternoon at 5000 ft. Light east winds through the passes in the morning switching westerly late in the day. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday | Cloudy in the morning with scattered showers. Light to moderate rain and snow increasing in the afternoon with chances of thunderstorms which may contain small hail. Increasing moderate winds gusting strong in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Periods of moderate rain and snow, heaviest mid-day. Chance of a thunderstorm. Increasing moderate winds. |
Issued: 7:30 AM PDT Friday, April 5, 2019
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' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 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 | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Timberline | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 7:30 AM PDT Friday, April 5, 2019
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 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 35 - 50 | SE 25 - 35 | ESE 25 - 35 | SE 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 50 |
| 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 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 35 - 50 | S 30 - 45 | SSW 45 - 65 | SSW 45 - 65 | SW 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 5, 2019
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