Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Monday
Big changes with afternoon update for Day 2 Precipitation amounts as forecast models have really backed off with the southward progression of heavy precipitation Monday night.
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 Cascades. Precipitation amounts look lighter for the central and south Washington Cascades and very little precipitation expected for Mt. Hood as the baroclinic zone initially hangs up over southern B.C. through late Monday night.
A strong warming trend will take place Monday night and continue into Tuesday. During the transition from snow to rain, a period of light freezing rain is possible in the Passes Monday night, but more likely east of the crest Tuesday morning as warm air overrides much colder air at the surface. Mt. Baker is forecast to see the heaviest precipitation through early Tuesday morning, and may see a decent shot of heavy snow before transition to rain early Tuesday morning.
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 developing. Winds quickly increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Stormy with moderate to occasionally 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. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow developing north Cascades. Becoming partly to mostly cloudy central and south Washington Cascades. Alpine winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow north Cascades. Light rain and snow central and 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, except cloudy lower slopes further east of the Cascade crest. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Becoming cloudy northeast Cascades Monday afternoon. Becoming partly cloudy central and southeast Washington Cascades. Alpine winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Moderate rain and snow developing northeast Cascades, heaviest near the crest. Light snow central and southeast Washington Cascades. Slow warming trend overnight. Potential period of light freezing rain late Monday night and Tuesday morning valleys and lower slopes mainly central-east and southeast Cascades. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday |
Mostly sunny and milder. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly clear. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Very light rain and snow developing after midnight and becoming windy. Mild. |
Issued: 2:32 PM 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' | 5500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 7500' | 4000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 6500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level * | 8500' | 5500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (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 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (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 8000' (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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 2.00 - 2.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
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: 2:32 PM 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 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| 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 20 - 30 |
| 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 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| 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 5 - 15 |
| 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 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 40 - 50 | SW 45 - 55 | SW 50 - 60 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday | NW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| 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 35 - 45 |
| Monday Night | SW 50 - 60 |
| 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.
Issued: 2:32 PM PST Sunday, January 15, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
The wet and mild ride will continue with several waves of warm frontal moisture impacting the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday. Mixed precipitation should linger the longest along the east slopes of the Cascades through Tuesday morning or mid-day before lower elevations see a switch to rain. Snow levels in the Washington Pass area may not peak until Wednesday afternoon with a slow warming trend up to that point.
An incoming longwave upper trough should turn the flow aloft more southerly on Wednesday, favoring the volcanoes and south slopes of the Olympics for the heaviest precipitation amounts. The upper trough should pass through the West Coast Wednesday night and begin to usher in a cooler and more showery air mass.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics. Light to moderate rain and snow along the east slopes of the Cascades. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow Mt. Hood. Windy in the alpine. Mild.
Moderate rain and snow changing to showers with a cooling trend.
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7500' | 7500' - 8500' | * |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
* 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 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.