Issued: 8:08 AM PDT Friday, April 13, 2018
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Thursday

A moisture-laden storm will impact the Pacific NW as an upper low off the Alaska panhandle brings a significant warm-front with rain and mountain snow as it lifts north and east across the region today and into the evening hours. Snow levels will rise over the course of the day on Friday, bringing a changeover to rain at Snoqualmie pass during the morning hours and at Stevens Pass during the afternoon hours. Mt. Baker base and Paradise will likely see snow mix with rain during the late afternoon and early evening hours before switching back to wet snow. Crest-level winds will be moderate to occasionally strong and increasing slightly throughout the day.

The cold front will follow right behind the warm front and will keep rain and mountain snow focused on the Washington Cascades and Olympics overnight, with the Mt. Hood area seeing a relative break. Crest-level winds in the Cascades will remain in the moderate to occasional strong range, decreasing gradually after midnight.

On Saturday, the cold frontal rain band remains over the Washington Cascades and Olympic, bringing light to moderate rain and snow, but a wave riding up the front will bring additional moderate to heavy rain and snow late Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening. The rainband drops south later Saturday night, bringing the moderate precipitation south into the Hood area. The Washington Cascades will experience slackening winds.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Friday Light rain and high elevation snow with rising snow levels during the morning hours. Moderate to occasionally strong SW winds, increasing slightly throughout the day.
Friday Night Light rain and snow. Moderate to occasionally strong winds decreasing toward morning.
Saturday Very light rain and snow, mainly in the afternoon.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Friday Moderate to heavy rain and snow with rising snow levels and increasing moderate to occasionally strong winds. Paradise and Mt. Baker will receive the heaviest precipitation while Crystal will see mostly light precipitation.
Friday Night Paradise and Mt. Baker will receive moderate to heavy rain and snow, while Crystal and the Cascade Passes will see light to moderate precipitation. Moderate to occasionally strong winds gradually decreasing.
Saturday Light rain and snow will continue in most areas, but Paradise will see moderate to heavy rain and snow. Precipitation will increase late in the day. Moderate S-SW winds.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday Moderate rain and snow with increasing moderate to occasionally strong SW winds. Rising snow levels throughout the day.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow with moderate to occasionally strong SW winds, decreasing after midnight. Slightly lowering snow levels.
Saturday Light rain and snow.
Mt. Hood
Friday Moderate rain and snow, decreasing late in the day. Moderate to occasionally strong SW winds.
Friday Night Decreasing light rain and snow.
Saturday Light rain and snow.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Snow Level * 5000' 3000' 3000' ' ' 3500' ' 4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 4000' 5000' ' ' 5000' ' 5000'
Friday Night Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4500' ' 4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 4000' 4000' 5000' ' ' 4500' ' 5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 4000' 5000' ' ' 5000' ' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Friday Night Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Thursday Thursday
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0 - 0.75
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0 - 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.50 0.75 - 1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 - 0.75 0 - 0.50
Paradise 2.00 - 3.00 1.50 - 2.50
White Pass 0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35 SSE 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 --- - SW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 S 25 - 35 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 20 - 30 --- - SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15 SSW 10 - 20 SSW 15 - 25 --- - SSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning SW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SSW 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 Morning --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -
Friday Afternoon --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -
Friday Night --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -
Saturday Morning --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- - --- - --- - --- - --- -
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night --- -
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -

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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Apr 10, 2018

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.