Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Saturday
We have one more day of mostly sunny skies, generally light winds and with temperatures continuing to moderate. Temperature inversions will continue in the Passes and protected valleys and low clouds will persist along the east slopes of the Cascades today.
An incoming frontal system, part of an atmospheric river that will impact the area through midweek, will reach the area beginning Monday afternoon with precipitation rapidly increasing Monday night for the Olympics and north and central Cascades. Precipitation amounts look lighter for the south Washington Cascades including locations like White Pass and much lighter for Mt. Hood as the baroclinic boundary hangs up over B.C. and Washington through midweek.
A strong warming trend will take place Monday night and continue into Tuesday. The Passes could see a messy transition Monday night with Snoqualmie Pass potentially staying snow through around midnight and Stevens Pass staying all snow overnight before a change over early Tuesday morning. A period of freezing rain is possible in the Passes Monday night, but more likely east of the crest and may stretch into Tuesday morning as warm air overrides much colder air at the surface.
Look for an avalanche watch to be issued later today covering Monday night and Tuesday.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday |
Mostly sunny with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly cloudy. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow. Winds quickly increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Warming trend overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Sunday |
Mostly sunny. Milder except colder with temperature inversions sheltered valleys and near Cascade Passes. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy north Cascades overnight. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow developing north Cascades. Becoming mostly cloudy central and south Washington Cascades. Alpine winds quickly increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow north and central Cascades. Light to moderate rain and snow south Washington Cascades. Warming trend overnight. Cascade Passes initially colder Monday night with a period of freezing rain possible during the transition from snow to rain. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday |
Mostly sunny except cloudy lower slopes further east of the Cascade crest. Milder except colder with temperature inversions lower slopes and valleys. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly clear, becoming partly to mostly cloudy northeast Cascades overnight. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow developing northeast Cascades late Monday afternoon. Becoming partly to mostly cloudy central and south Washington Cascades. Alpine winds quickly increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Becoming stormy with moderate rain and snow northeast and central-east Cascades, heaviest near the crest. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow southeast Washington Cascades. Slow warming trend overnight. Snow transitioning to rain closer to the crest late Monday night along with a period of freezing rain possible late Monday night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday |
Mostly sunny and milder. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly clear. |
| Monday |
Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow developing overnight and becoming windy. Mild. |
Issued: 7:59 AM PST Sunday, January 15, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Freezing Level * | 6500' | 5500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | Freezing Level * | 7500' | 6500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 6500' | 3500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 6500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level * | 7500' | 5500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
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
| Saturday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 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: 7:59 AM PST Sunday, January 15, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 40 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | NW 20 - 30 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 20 - 30 | W 10 - 20 | NW 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 40 - 50 | SW 45 - 55 | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | NW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Monday Night | SW 40 - 50 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | NW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | NW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | NW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
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 15, 2017
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.
8 AM Update - Corrected Day 2 typos for Precipitation Forecast