Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Sunday
The Pacific Northwest sits in W to WNW flow in a shallow trough. Several weakening convergence zones are visible on radar imagery early Wednesday morning. A weak Vancouver Island convergence zone near the US-Canadian border may drift south to the Mt. Baker area as it generally fizzles out. A stronger Puget Sound Convergence zome should over Snohomish County may bring several inches of snow to the southern Mountain Loop and Stevens areas before weakening as it moves south. It may reach Snoqualmie Pass by the afternoon. Colder air moving into the region aloft should drive instability showers, mostly for the West Slopes of the Olympics, areas south of I-90 on Wednesday, and particularly Mt. Hood, where strong upper-level winds are also providing orographic forcing for slightly more sustained snowfall. Mt. Hood could pick up 6-10" of new snow on Wednesday, with less significant amounts further north.
An off-shore upper-level disturbance should move SE toward SW Oregon Wednesday night. The circulation associated with disturbance should reduce WNW flow overnight, decreasing snow shower coverage overnight.
A very subtle mid-level disturbance should touch off some light snowfall to the Washington Cascades on Thursday.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow shower activity. Colder. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy with light snow possible early with some slight enhancement in a weakening convergence zone near the Canadian Border. Cooler. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday | Light snow showers near the Cascade Crest ending early in the morning in the north. Convergence activity may spill over in the central Cascades during the morning hours and light snow showers activity may continue throughout the day south of I-90. Cooler. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday | Convergence zone near Stevens Pass early in the morning should shift southward and weaken possibly reaching Snoqualmie by the afternoon. Several inches of snow are possible. Moderate to strong W winds at 5000 ft should decrease gradually. Strong and gusty W winds the Passes should decrease into the moderate range by late in the day. Cooler. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday | Light snow shower activity. Moderate to strong alpine winds. Cooler. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Moderate snow may become showery. Strong to extreme alpine winds gradually decreasing throughout the day. Cooler. |
Issued: 7:05 AM PST Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 0' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 1500' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
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: 7:05 AM PST Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 5 - 15 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 20 - 30 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | W 25 - 35 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 30 - 40 | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 20 - 30 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 30 - 40 | NW 45 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 45 - 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Jan 7, 2020
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.