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 Thursday
A rainband associated with a low tracking northward offshore will bring rain at generally elevated snow levels west of the Cascade Crest. Cold air east of the Cascade Crest will gradually erode from south to north, but may still provide a messy mix of rain, sleet and snow east from the lower Cascade passes eastward in the evening and overnight hours. Mt. Baker continues to be favored by the southerly flow pattern (2" of water overnight), but other areas will start receiving moderate precipitation overnight.
The passage of the rainband is likely to decrease easterly flow enough to change both Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes to rain by Thursday early morning and scour out the and scour out the cold air pool east of the Cascade Crest as the rainband doesn't provide much cooling aloft. Precipitation type has been very difficult to forecast during this event.
A weak warm front will brush the region on Thursday, bringing generally light rain and snow on a southerly flow.
Thursday night and Friday should see some clearing as most of the weather action stays just offshore to our west with a ridge building over eastern Washington, keeping us dry.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday Night | Decreasing light rain and snow, becoming showery. Moderate winds, strong gusts. Slight cooling. |
| Thursday | Light rain and snow showers. Slight warming. Moderate winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday Night | Heavy rain and snow. Increasing moderate winds. |
| Thursday | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday Night | Light to moderate snow becoming light rain and snow after midnight. Moderate winds peaking in the evening with strong gusts at crest-level. |
| Thursday | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Moderate winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday Night | Moderate precipitation: a mix of rain, sleet, and snow with temperatures near the freezing mark at Snoqualmie Pass. Light to moderate east flow. Moderate crest-level winds with strong gusts in the evening. |
| Thursday | Decreasing light rain and showers with rain showers at pass level. Moderate winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow at Paradise with moderate rain and snow for Crystal and White Pass. Moderate winds with strong gusts peaking in the evening hours. |
| Thursday | Light rain and snow showers, decreasing. Moderate winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday Night | Increasing moderate rain and snow. Moderate winds with occasional strong gusts. |
| Thursday | Becoming mostly cloudy. Moderate winds decreasing. |
Issued: 2:43 PM PST Wednesday, January 9, 2019
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 * | 5500' | 4500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level * | 5000' | 4500' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 5000' | 4000' | 5000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level * | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 6000' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level * | 6500' | 5000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 5500' | 7500' |
| Friday Morning | Freezing Level * | 7000' | 5500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 6000' | 6000' | 7500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 7500' | 7000' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 7000' | 7000' | 8000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (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 | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 1.00 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 2.00 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
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: 2:43 PM PST Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 30 - 45 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 | S 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SSW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 | SSE 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 | SSE 20 - 30 | ESE 10 - 20 | SSE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
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 | SSW 35 - 50 | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 35 - 50 | SW 35 - 50 | SW 35 - 50 | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 35 - 50 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 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.
Issued: 2:43 PM PST Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The ridge continues to build across the western US Friday night and becomes a blocking high on Saturday over Idaho. This pattern forces storms to split south to California or north to SE Alaska, leaving the Pacific Northwest with mild, mostly sunny weather through Monday and moderate offshore gradients keeping the passes slightly cooler with E flow. This pattern is currently forecast to break down during the middle of next week.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | 6000' - 8000' | * |
| Saturday | Freezing Level | 6000' - 8000' | 5500' - 7500' | 5500' - 7500' | * |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 5500' - 7500' | 4500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | * |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 5000' - 7000' | 5000' - 7000' | 5500' - 7500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 7500' (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.
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 9, 2019
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