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 & Tuesday
A tongue of high pressure is building from over the near shore waters on Thursday, ushered in between the departure of closed low now moving across the southwestern US and a trough over the north-central Pacific. The high pressure is bringing clear skies, light winds and far milder, spring-like conditions. Fair weather cumulus clouds will bring partly to mostly cloudy skies to the mountains, but the atmosphere is generally quite stable.
On Thursday night, the eastward movement of the central Pacific trough will push the high pressure tongue over the Pacific Northwest. Mostly clear skies will allow temperatures to cool overnight on Thursday, but freezing levels will remain elevated.
On Friday, the high pressure will continue to amplify as it moves to the east of our forecast area, while the offshore trough will bring increasing clouds and increasing SW flow aloft, late in the day. Friday will feature warm temperatures that will cool as light winds increase from the W or SW in the afternoon.
On Friday night, the trough will stretch from Alaska to the Northwest tip of Washington State. An associated N-S oriented cold-front will cross the Pacific Northwest shortly after midnight, bringing moderate to occasionally strong crest-level W-SW winds and light to moderate rain and snow becoming showery toward morning. Precipitation will be slightly heavier in the north than the south.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
Thursday | Mostly sunny with some fair weather cumulus clouds. |
Thursday Night | Mostly clear with some high clouds. |
Friday | Increasing clouds with a chance of light rain or snow late in the day. Mild temperatures. |
Friday Night | Cloudy with some light rain and snow. Snow levels gradually lowering. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Thursday | Partly cloudy this afternoon with fair weather cumulus clouds over the topography. Warm. |
Thursday Night | Mostly clear with increasing high clouds. |
Friday | Increasing clouds during the day. Warm. |
Friday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow, becoming light rain and snow showers by morning. Moderate to occasionally strong crest-level SW or W-SW winds. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday | Partly cloudy this afternoon with fair weather cumulus clouds over the topography. Warm. |
Thursday Night | Mostly clear with increasing high clouds. |
Friday | Increasing clouds during the day. Warm. |
Friday Night | Light rain and snow becoming showery by morning. Snow levels gradually lowering. Moderate to occasionally strong crest-level SW or W-SW winds. |
Mt. Hood
Thursday | Partly cloudy this afternoon with fair weather cumulus clouds over the topography. Warm. |
Thursday Night | Mostly clear with increasing high clouds. |
Friday | Increasing clouds during the day. Warm. |
Friday Night | Light rain and snow, mainly after midnight. Snow levels gradually lowering. Moderate to occasionally strong crest-level SW or W-SW winds. |
Issued: 1:34 PM PDT Thursday, April 19, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 6500' | 6000' | 7000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 7500' |
Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 6000' | 5000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7500' |
Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 7500' |
Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 5000' | 6000' | 7000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8500' |
Friday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
Washington Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Leavenworth | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Stevens Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' |
Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' |
Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday | Tuesday | |
---|---|---|
Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 1:34 PM PDT Thursday, April 19, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Night | W 30 - 40 |
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 Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SW 45 - 65 | WSW 35 - 50 | SW 40 - 60 | --- - | SW 40 - 60 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 45 - 65 |
Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | WSW 35 - 50 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Night | SW 40 - 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: 1:34 PM PDT Thursday, April 19, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
On Saturday, trough over Washington state will shift east of the forecast area as the associated frontal system exits the region with light rain and snow showers rapidly decreasing during the morning hours leaving isolated shower activity in the central and north Cascades. Skies will clear east of the Cascade crest during the day.
Saturday night through Monday will feature mostly clear skies, generally light winds, and warming with stronger warming as the high pressure builds more strongly Sunday night into Monday as freezing levels rise to well above crest level by Monday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
Sunday | Freezing Level | 4000' - 6000' | 4500' - 6500' | 5000' - 7000' | |
Sunday Night | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | 7000' - 8000' | |
Monday | Snow Level | 6500' - 8500' | 7000' - 9000' | 9000' - 11000' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
Sunday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 6000' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
Monday |
Snow Level 6500' - 8500' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
Monday |
Snow Level 7000' - 9000' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
Sunday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 7000' |
Sunday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
Monday |
Snow Level 9000' - 11000' |
* 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 Apr 14, 2018
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.