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Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Saturday
Out with the Arctic and in with the Tropics! The replacement of the Arctic air mass that was over the area will continue one more day on Wednesday in the Cascades.
The heaviest precipitation the 24 hours ending Wednesday morning has been at Mt Baker with over 4 inches. Crystal also had over 3 inches. A mix of heavy sleet and freezing rain has been seen at Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes.
The atmospheric river and stormy weather that moved to the Northwest on Tuesday will gradually fade over the Northwest on Wednesday. The last weak wave on the front should move south to north over the area Wednesday late afternoon and evening.
Rain or snow will probably be heaviest the volcanoes on Wednesday. More rain, snow, sleet or freezing rain should be seen at Stevens and Snoqualmie and east of the crest as the surface Arctic air mass continues to erode to the east.
A shift to very weak west winds in the Cascade passes should be seen Wednesday evening which should cause a bump in the snow levels there.
The action will be over by Thursday with a weak upper trough and cooler air mass moving into the Northwest, with the main flow in the south part of the trough moving to south California. There should just be some mostly some light snow showers in the Olympics and Cascades on Thursday with lower snow levels.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Wednesday |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain or snow. |
| Wednesday Night |
Rain or snow decreasing and changing to light showers. Cooler. |
| Thursday |
Light showers. Cooler. |
| Thursday Night |
Light showers mostly ending. Cooler. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain or snow heaviest on the volcanoes, light to moderate sleet or freezing rain at Stevens and Snoqualmie, moderate rain at White Pass. |
| Wednesday Night |
Rain or snow decreasing and changing to light showers. Cooler. |
| Thursday |
Light showers except light to moderate showers at Mt Baker. Cooler. |
| Thursday Night |
Light showers mostly ending. Cooler. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday |
Stormy with light to moderate rain or snow. Light to moderate sleet or freezing rain possible at lower elevations. |
| Wednesday Night |
Rain or snow decreasing and changing to light showers heaviest at higher elevations. Cooler. |
| Thursday |
Light showers heaviest at higher elevations. Cooler. |
| Thursday Night |
Light showers at higher elevations mostly ending. Cooler. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday |
Light to moderate rain or snow. |
| Wednesday Night |
Rain or snow decreasing and changing to light showers. Cooler. |
| Thursday |
Light showers. Cooler. |
| Thursday Night |
Light showers mostly ending. Cooler. |
Issued: 1:11 PM PST Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 5000' | 4500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level * | 2500' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (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 | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 2.00 - 3.00 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 2.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.75 | 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: 1:11 PM PST Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 25 - 35 | --- - | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 10 - 20 | SSE 5 - 15 | --- - | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 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 Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 | SW 30 - 45 | SW 40 - 60 | --- - | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 5 - 15 | SSE 20 - 30 | --- - | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
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: 1:11 PM PST Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
An upper and surface low pressure system will linger about 500 miles off the Northwest coast during the Friday to Sunday period. Weak systems will rotate around the low and affect the Northwest. Weak offshore surface flow should also be seen during that period.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades, Mt Hood
Periods of mostly light rain or snow heaviest on the volcanoes of the south Cascades with snow levels generally below Cascade pass levels.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Sunday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (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 18, 2017
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