Issued: 2:58 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Tuesday

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.
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.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Rain and snow briefly moderate to heavy early then ending rapidly. Cooling. Moderate 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.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers ending during the evening hours, then becoming mostly cloudy. Moderate winds.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Mostly cloudy with decreasing moderate winds.

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'
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 Tuesday Tuesday Night Tuesday
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
LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00 1.00 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 1.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.25
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.50

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
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
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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

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'
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.