Issued: 2:35 PM PDT Friday, April 12, 2019
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 Friday night through Monday

Mostly cloudy skies along with popcorn scattered showers will quickly wane this evening with the loss of daytime heating. A Pacific frontal system will approach from the NW overnight, reaching the Mt. Baker area and the Olympics by daybreak. Precipitation will spread south and inland during the day on Saturday, not reaching Mt. Hood until the afternoon. Increasing S-SW winds will ramp up in a similar fashion. Locally moderate snow should accumulate in the Mt. Baker area during the daylight hours with lighter amounts for other areas. 

Snow levels will likely bump up slightly (500') with the frontal passage in the late afternoon. It won't take very long for significant cooling and post-frontal snow showers to develop along the west slopes of the Cascades Saturday evening. Snow levels should plummet to 1500-2000' by early Sunday morning. Westerly flow aloft coupled with a weak shortwave disturbance passing through the region will keep plenty of showers and clouds in the forecast along with brisk westerly ridgecrest winds. The further east of the crest you head Sunday, the more sunshine you'll encounter. Areas of convergence will locally enhance snowfall for the west slopes of the Cascades over the weekend.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower. Becoming cloudy after midnight with light rain and snow developing late.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower. Becoming cloudy after midnight with light rain and snow developing late.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower. Becoming cloudy late tonight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower. Becoming cloudy late tonight. Moderate west wind in the Passes becoming light.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower. Becoming cloudy late tonight. Moderate west wind in the Passes becoming light.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of an evening light shower.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Evening Freezing Level 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 6000'
Friday Night Freezing Level 5500' 4000' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5500' 6000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 6000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 4000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level 2500' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
6000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'

* 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

Friday Night Monday Monday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Friday Night S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening SW 5 - 15
Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 5 - 15
Friday Night SW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30

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
Friday Evening W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 NW 25 - 35 NW 20 - 30 NW 15 - 25
Friday Night SW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 NW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening NW 25 - 35
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening NW 20 - 30
Friday Night W 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening NW 15 - 25
Friday Night NW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40 - 50

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

Showers in westerly flow should wind down Sunday night. The jet stream will drop south into northern California on Monday with a low pressure system digging off the coast. Forecast models disagree with how much precipitation to rotate up and over the Pacific Northwest. There is higher confidence that snow levels will remain on the cool side Monday. The main operational forecast models continue to be out of phase on Tuesday with a run-of-the-mill frontal system passing through or weak shortwave ridging overhead possible. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Snow Level 1500' - 2500' 1500' - 2500' 2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000'
Monday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday 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 Apr 12, 2019

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