Issued: 1:29 PM PST Thursday, January 8, 2015
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Wednesday

The upper ridge over the western U.S. will provide the PNW with one more day of high freezing levels and light winds. A strong temperature inversion will continue today, with the warmest temperatures occurring mid-mountain and extending into the alpine. Low clouds and fog along the east slopes of the eastern Cascades may push into the Cascade Passes with easterly flow increasing during the daylight hours. 

A weak north-south oriented front will approach the coast Friday with the energy splitting as the front nears the coast. Mid and high level clouds will increase over the area in advance of the weak frontal system. Light showers are possible Friday night and the flow aloft will become westerly.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and the Mt. Hood area
Thursday

Warm and mostly sunny, except locally cooler and cloudier at times in valleys and the Cascade Passes. 

Thursday Night - Friday

Becoming mostly cloudy Friday with increasing mid and high level clouds. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday

Cool and cloudy lower slopes. Mostly clear and warm upper slopes of the east Cascades. 

Thursday Night - Friday

Becoming mostly cloudy Friday with increasing mid and high level clouds. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Freezing Level * 11500' 11000' 10000' ' ' 11000' ' 11500'
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level * 10000' 10000' 9000' ' ' 10000' ' 11000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level * 9000' 8500' 8000' ' ' 9000' ' 10000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night - Friday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
6000'

* 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
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Afternoon E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 5 - 15 --- - E 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 --- - E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Friday - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Thursday Night E 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night WSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Thursday Night VAR 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Friday - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Thursday Night E 0 - 10
Friday - Friday Night WSW 5 - 15

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
Thursday VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 --- - W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday --- -
Thursday Night - Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night - Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

Light showers at moderate snow levels in westerly flow should continue on Saturday. Weak ridging will build over the area Saturday night as a new weather system develops offshore. This weather system will also be weak. Light precipitation should mainly affect the Mt. Hood area on Sunday as it traverses inland from the Oregon Coast. Light showers should be seen elsewhere Sunday and Sunday night. A drying trend should begin on Monday as an upper ridge builds offshore.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and the Mt. Hood area
Saturday - Saturday Night

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. 

Sunday

Periods of light rain and snow central and north Cascades. Steadier light rain and snow south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. Slight cooling trend.

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. 

Monday Afternoon

Partial clearing. Isolated light rain and snow showers. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 5000' - 6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Saturday Night - Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Saturday Night - Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Saturday Night - Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'

* 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, 2015

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