Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Cool air continues to trickle into the region on a westerly flow. A very slight disturbance coincides with some light precipitation moving onshore over SW Washington and northern Oregon on Friday afternoon. That precipitation could bring 1-3 inches of light snowfall to west slopes from the central Washington Cascades southward with slightly higher amounts likely for Mt. Hood. A stiff W flow over southern parts over the forecast region should diminish overnight as an offshore low dropping south toward Oregon sends the upper-level energy southward and leaves us with NW flow. Another very weak disturbance moving through on the NW flow should spread some very light snowfall to the west slopes of the Cascades from during the day on Thursday. Most areas should see less than an inch of snow, except if weak convergence develops, in which case a few inches are possible.
Thursday evening should be mostly dry with increasing mid-level clouds in the evening and increasing light snow developing after midnight in advance of a well-developed storm dropping SE off the British Columbia coastline. The associated frontal system should spread increasingly heavy snowfall and strong winds throughout the day Friday, with the surface front reaching the coastline by early afternoon and the Cascades by the end of the day. With cold air in place and moderate easterly flow through the passes, expect some warming, but snowfall at all NWAC stations and 1-2 inches of precipitation during the day for Paradise, Snoqualmie Pass, and Mt. Baker.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday Night | Partly cloudy in the evening with increasing clouds after midnight and a chance of snow flurries. Cool. |
| Thursday | Slight chance of light snow early in the morning, then decreasing clouds in the afternoon. Cool. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday Night | Mostly cloudy with clouds increasing toward morning. Cool. |
| Thursday | Light snow in the morning with decreasing clouds in the afternoon. Cool. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday Night | Mostly clear and cool. |
| Thursday | Slight chance of some clouds or very light snow near the Cascade Crest in the morning, then decreasing clouds in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday Night | Decreasing light snow in the evening, with flurries lingering after midnight. Decreasing moderate W wind through the Passes. |
| Thursday | Periods of very light snow peaking in the middle of the day. Light to moderate W winds through he Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday Night | Decreasing light snow in the evening, with flurries lingering after midnight. |
| Thursday | Periods of very light snow. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday Night | Light to moderate snow in the evening becoming very light. |
| Thursday | Light snow developing from late morning onwards. |
Issued: 2:28 PM 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 Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level * | 2000' | 1500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (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
| Wednesday Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 1.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 1.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 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: 2:28 PM PST Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 | W 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 0 - 10 | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 5 - 15 | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
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 Evening | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | W 20 - 30 | WNW 15 - 25 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 30 - 40 | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 | WNW 15 - 25 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | NW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 | NNW 20 - 30 | NW 30 - 40 | NW 35 - 45 | NW 45 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | NW 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.
Issued: 2:28 PM PST Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Friday evening the frontal passage should raise snow levels temporarily to just below Snoqualmie Pass level before cooler air filters back in, butat this time we expect an all snow event for Snoqualmie. Heavy snow in the early evening should taper, but the precipitation may pick up again as the trough and surface low move toward the Washington Coastline after midnight, favoring the Mt. Hood and southern Washington Cascades with additional heavy snowfall.
Light to moderate snow showers continue along the west slopes of the Cascades as the trough axis shifts east, leaving a moist and unstable WNW flow in its wake. Snow increases once again Saturday night as another low drops toward the region on a similar track to its predecessor. Sunday brings another round of heavy snow throughout the Cascades as the low arrives. The threat of an arctic outbreak looms along the Canadian border by the end of the day on Sunday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
* 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 Jan 8, 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.