Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
A series of weather systems rotating around a parent low in the Gulf of Alaska continue to impact the Pacific Northwest in rapid succession throughout the forecast period. An upper trough is digging behind a frontal rainband passing over the area this afternoon with the frontal passage occurring during the early evening hours in the North Cascades where rain and snow could be heavy for a brief period of time as the front passes. Wind will accompany the front. Snow levels in the 5000 ft range will drop behind the front to around Snoqualmie Pass level by Saturday morning. Scattered rain and snow showers are expected to decrease and generally end along the west slopes of the Cascades by midnight Friday night, with mostly cloudy skies remaining.
The next system will begin spreading light rain and snow (at lower snow levels) into the Olympic Mountains in the early morning hours. This will spread throughout the region during the day as the front lifts from SW to NE. Due to the easterly component of the flow, areas of the east slopes stand to pick up decent water amounts, but the heaviest snowfall will be on the volcanoes where 6-12" of snow is likely to fall above approximately 4000 ft. The system will be accompanied by moderate to strong SE switching to SW winds late in the day.
Several more waves of moisture will arrive at rising snow levels on a WSW flow later Saturday night and Sunday with heavier rain and high elevation snow initially focused on the Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier areas then shifting throughout the region. This may be high impact events with significant rain, high elevation snow, and very strong to extreme winds are possible in the Mt. Hood area and southern Washington Cascade Volcanoes.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Cloudy with increasing showers in the early morning hours. Cooler. Moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Increasing light to moderate snow. Strong winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Moderate convergence possible near Mt. Baker early then rain and snow becoming light showers ending during the evening hours. Cooler. Moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Increasing moderate snow. Moderate to occasionally strong winds increasing. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Rain and snow briefly moderate to heavy early then ending rapidly. Cooling. Moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Increasing light to occasionally moderate snow. Moderate to occasionally strong winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow showers ending during the evening hours, then becoming mostly cloudy. Light W wind switching to light E wind at pass level. Moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate E wind switching to moderate W wind in the afternoon at pass level. Moderate to strong winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday Night | Light rain and snow showers ending during the evening hours, then becoming mostly cloudy. Moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Increasing moderate rain and snow. Heaviest at Paradise. Moderate to strong winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Mostly cloudy with decreasing moderate winds. |
| Saturday | Stormy with increasing moderate rain and snow. Strong winds. |
Issued: 2:58 PM 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 Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level * | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 4500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 6500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 7000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' (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 Night | Friday | Friday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | 0.75 | 0.75 -1.00 | 1.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 0.75 -1.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday | 1.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Friday | 1.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Friday | 1.50 |
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: 2:58 PM PDT Friday, April 5, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 30 - 45 | ESE 20 - 30 | ESE 25 - 35 | ESE 25 - 35 | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 | SE 25 - 35 | ESE 25 - 35 | SE 25 - 35 | SW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
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 Evening | SW 25 - 35 | SW 30 - 45 | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | S 25 - 35 | SSE 15 - 25 | S 55 - 75 | S 50 - 70 | SW 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 | SW 45 - 65 | SW 45 - 65 | SW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | S 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | S 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 45 - 65 |
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.
Issued: 2:58 PM PDT Friday, April 5, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Sunday night through Tuesday models agree that a trough will head toward the region, but some indicate a lot of moisture and significant weather heading into the region ahead of the trough and others indicate that the trough will focus any rain and snow further south, leaving us in a drier split flow. Where snow falls it should be at elevated snow levels.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 5000' | 3000' - 5000' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 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.
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 5, 2019
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.