Issued: 2:53 PM PDT Thursday, April 18, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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 night through Friday

A moist SW flow with a subtropical source, combined with a stalled and weakening frontal system will keep a wet weather pattern through the day on Friday. The weakly organized rain activity ahead of the front has been taking aim at NW Washington and coastal British Columbia while bringing warm temperatures (8000-10000 ft snow levels) and light to moderate winds to the region. The precipitation should focus on the N Cascades during the evening hours, extending southward as a ridge flattens across the region. The surface front is expected reach the Olympic Coastline by early morning, crossing the Cascades from NW to SE during the day on Friday, allowing precipitation, winds, and temperatures to decrease with the frontal passage. Snow levels should drop to 5000 ft in the Baker area and 8000 ft in the Mt. Hood area by early evening as an upper trough works into the region.

Friday night, the upper trough moves over the region as the front exits, but a drying northerly flow should quickly shut off the precipitation, which should remain should generally fall as rain at pass level, with a dusting to a few inches of snow possible mid-elevations along parts of the west slopes of the Cascades.

On Saturday, ridging begins rebuilding offshore and edges into the region, bringing fairer weather wither and lingering clouds giving way to sunshine in many (but not all) areas.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Decreasing light periods of rain. Unseasonably mild. Moderate winds.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Light to moderate periods of rain, heaviest in the evening. Unseasonably mild. Moderate winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Light to moderate periods of rain near the Cascade Crest with lighter rain further east. Unseasonably mild. Light to moderate winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Slightly increasing light to occasionally moderate periods of rain. Unseasonably mild. Moderate 5000 ft winds, light generally W wind at pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Slightly increasing light to occasionally moderate periods of rain. Unseasonably mild. Light winds.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night High clouds lowering and thickening. Unseasonably mild. Light winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Snow Level 8500' 8000' 9000' 9500' 9000' 9000' 9500' 10000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 8000' 8000' 8500' 9000' 8500' 9000' 9000' 10500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 6500' 7000' 7500' 8500' 8000' 8000' 8000' 10000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 5500' 6500' 7000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 8500'
Friday Evening Snow Level 5000' 5000' 6000' 6500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 7500'
Friday Night Snow Level 5000' 3500' 4500' 5500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 7000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level 5500' 4500' 5000' 6000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
8500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
8000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
8000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
8000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
8500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
9000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
8500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
8500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
9000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
9500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
9000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
10000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
10500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
10000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
8500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
7500'
Friday Night Snow Level
7000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
6500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening WSW 35 - 50 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 35 - 50 SW 30 - 45
Thursday Night SW 40 - 60 SW 35 - 50 SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60 SW 40 - 60
Friday Morning SW 30 - 45 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 35 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Thursday Night SW 40 - 60
Friday Morning SW 30 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Thursday Night SW 35 - 50
Friday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 40 - 60
Thursday Night SW 40 - 60
Friday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Friday Afternoon W 30 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Thursday Night SW 40 - 60
Friday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Friday Afternoon W 30 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 30 - 45
Thursday Night SW 40 - 60
Friday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 45

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

A wedge-shaped ridge should dominate the weather pattern from Saturday night through Monday, with above normal temperatures and a gradual warming trend throughout the period. Expect a good deal of sunshine through Sunday night. Clouds are expected to increase on Monday ahead of the next system approaching from the NW and possibly bringing some light rain into parts of the region by late in the day.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' 6500' - 7500' 6500' - 7500'
Sunday Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' 6500' - 7500' 7000' - 8000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' 7000' - 8000' 8500' - 9500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Sunday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Monday Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Sunday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Monday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Sunday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
Monday Freezing Level
9000' - 10000'

* 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 17, 2019

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