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 & Friday
An atmospheric river faded over the Northwest on Wednesday. Water equivalents for the 72 hours ending Thursday morning were the most at Baker and Crystal with about 7.6 inches and about 5 inches respectively. There was probably a lot at Paradise as well but the precipitation gage is out there. We hope to have that fixed soon. Water equivalents for other sites were mostly in the 1-2 inch range.
A weak upper trough that stretches from the Northwest to California will move into the west US on Thursday. This will cause snow showers mainly over the Cascade west slopes with snow levels lower than they have been the past couple days.
A relative break between weak systems is indicated Thursday night.
A large weak upper and surface low pressure system will begin to linger a few hundred miles off the Northwest coast on Friday. Very weak shortwaves and minor moisture will begin to rotate out of and around the low and across the Northwest on Friday and Friday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Afternoon |
Light to moderate snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
| Friday Morning - Friday Night |
Renewed light snow showers. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday Afternoon |
Moderate snow showers on the volcanoes and mostly light snow showers in the Cascade Passes. |
| Thursday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
| Friday Morning - Friday Night |
Renewed light snow showers most areas. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly light snow showers heaviest higher elevations. |
| Thursday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
| Friday Morning - Friday Night |
Renewed light snow showers heaviest higher elevations. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly light snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
| Friday Morning - Friday Night |
Renewed light snow showers. |
Issued: 1:41 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level * | 2500' | 2000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday 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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 0 - 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: 1:41 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 5 - 15 | SSE 10 - 20 | --- - | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 | SE 15 - 25 | SE 20 - 30 | --- - | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | --- - | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 | SE 5 - 15 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
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 | SW 30 - 45 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 45 | --- - | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 25 - 35 | --- - | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 40 - 60 | --- - | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 15 - 25 | --- - | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | SSE 40 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | 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: 1:41 PM PST Thursday, January 19, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
The large weak upper and surface low pressure system will continue to linger a few hundred miles off the Northwest coast on Saturday and Sunday. It looks like weak shortwaves and more mostly minor moisture should rotate out of the the low and across the Northwest on Saturday and Sunday.
The low should sink southeast to California on Monday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades, Mt Hood
Mostly light snow showers spreading south to north heaviest south Cascades.
Light occasional moderate snow showers spreading south to north heaviest south Cascades.
Light snow showers mainly south Cascades ending in the morning. Decreasing clouds in the afternoon and night.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
* 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 19, 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.