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 & Friday
A weak upper trough that stretched from the Northwest to California moved into the west US on Thursday. Snow showers over the Olympics and Cascades caused a couple to a few inches of new snow at most NWAC stations for the 24 hours ending Friday morning along the west slopes. The big winners by far were Mt Baker with 20 inches and Hurricane with about 12 inches of new snow for the 24 hours ending Friday morning.
A large weak upper and surface low pressure system will linger a few hundred miles west of the Northwest coast on Friday and Saturday. Weak short waves and snow showers will rotate out of the low and south to north over the Northwest mainly about Friday afternoon and evening and about Saturday afternoon and evening. Snow showers should generally be heaviest on the volcanoes in the south Cascades with less in the Cascade Passes and with little change in snow levels.
Models continue to indicate a temporary increase in southeast crest level winds in the central Cascades on Friday morning. Crest level winds should be lighter by Friday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday |
Increasing light snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Light snow showers decreasing. |
| Saturday |
Increasing light to moderate snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday |
Increasing light snow showers mainly on the volcanoes in the south Cascades with less in the Cascade Passes. |
| Friday Night |
Light snow showers decreasing. |
| Saturday |
Increasing light to moderate snow showers mainly on the volcanoes in the south Cascades with less in the Cascade Passes. |
| Saturday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday |
Increasing light snow showers heaviest south part. |
| Friday Night |
Light snow showers decreasing. |
| Saturday |
Increasing light snow showers heaviest south part. |
| Saturday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday |
Increasing light to moderate snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Light snow showers decreasing. |
| Saturday |
Increasing light to moderate snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Light snow showers ending. |
Issued: 1:42 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | 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: 1:42 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 20 - 30 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 25 - 35 | --- - | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 | SE 5 - 15 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 | SE 5 - 15 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SE 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SE 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 Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 | SE 25 - 35 | SE 40 - 60 | --- - | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 5 - 15 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 25 - 35 | --- - | SSE 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SE 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 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: 1:42 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
A slightly stronger and slightly more organized short wave and showers should rotate out of the low and south to north over the Northwest on Sunday.
The low should drift fairly rapidly south to the California coast on Monday.
An upper ridge should build over the northeast Pacific Ocean by Tuesday causing dry north flow aloft over the Northwest.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades, Mt Hood
Increasing moderate snow showers mainly on the volcanoes and increasing light snow in the Cascade Passes.
Light snow showers ending in the morning. Decreasing clouds in the afternoon and evening.
Mostly sunny and mostly clear.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday | Snow Level | 1000' - 3000' | 1000' - 3000' | 1000' - 3000' | |
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | 1000' - 3000' | 1000' - 3000' | 1000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
* 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 20, 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.