Issued: 2:50 PM PST Monday, January 21, 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 Monday night through Saturday

A weak high pressure arrives Monday night as frontal boundaries ride over the top. The first will weaken and fizzle Monday night, bringing clouds and a chance of very light precipitation to the Olympics and Mt. Baker area by Tuesday morning. The second, a far more significant and moisture-laden frontal system, will bring a warm front into the region during the day on Tuesday while the associated low tracks toward the north end of Vancouver Island. The system will spread snow, which will eventually change to rain in many low to mid elevation areas later Tuesday and Tuesday night. We expect a changeover to rain at Snoqualmie in the early evening, Stevens later in the evening, and Mt. Baker base after midnight. Increased precipitation will occur throughout the day on Tuesday, continuing Tuesday night as the low tracks WSW toward Washington State.

Tuesday evening, the heaviest precipitation will hit the west slopes of the Cascades north of Stevens Pass on an SW flow before targeting the entire west slopes as the flow shifts westerly. On Wednesday, light post-frontal snow showers, heaviest in possible convergence bands near or north of Stevens will decrease. Storm totals of 1-2" of snow water equivalent are forecast throughout the west slopes of the Cascades by the end of the day on Wednesday. Don't expect much cooling behind this storm as a ridge offshore keeps warm air moving over the region.

 

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening with a chance of light snow by morning. Light winds becoming moderate.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening with a chance of light snow by morning. Light winds becoming light to moderate.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening with a chance of light snow by morning. Light winds becoming light to moderate.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening by morning. Light ridge-top winds becoming light to moderate. Light westerly winds at pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening by morning. Increasing light wind.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night High clouds lowering and thickening by morning. Light to moderate wind.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Evening Freezing Level 3500' 2000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Monday Night Snow Level 2000' 1500' 0' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2000' 1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 4500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 6000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 5500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 6500' 4500' 3000' 4500' 4500' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 5000' 4500' 4000' 5500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 6500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow 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

Monday Night Saturday Saturday Night Saturday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0.75 1.00 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.75 1.00 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 1.00 1.50 0.50
White Pass 0 0.50 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 75.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night 1.00
Saturday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday LT 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night 1.00
Saturday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 1.00
Saturday Night 1.50
Saturday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 1.00
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday 75.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening SSW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Monday Night S 15 - 25 SSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SSW 20 - 30 S 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Monday Night SSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening W 10 - 20
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Monday Night SSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 10 - 20
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 15 - 25 NW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 30 - 45 WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 45 W 30 - 45 W 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning WSW 35 - 50 W 35 - 50 W 30 - 45 W 30 - 45 W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 30 - 45
Tuesday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Monday Night WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Morning W 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Monday Night W 30 - 45
Tuesday Morning W 30 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WNW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 30 - 45
Tuesday Morning W 30 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon W 50 - 70
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning W 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon W 40 - 60

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

Wednesday night, the post-frontal showers will end and skies will be clearing. Temperatures will remain mild as a warm ridge of high pressure lingers just offshore.

On Thurday through Friday, the ridge moves slightly further onshore as we experience unseasonably mild, mostly clear weather, particularly for the southern parts of the forecast region with weak systems trying to move over the top of the ridge into British Columbia, bringing us some clouds in the north.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 2000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 5000' - 6000'
Thursday Freezing Level 2500' - 4500' 5000' - 7000' 7500' - 9500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 3000' - 5000' 4500' - 6500' 9000' - 1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 4000'
Thursday Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 5000'
Friday Freezing Level
3500' - 5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Freezing Level
5000' - 7000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
4500' - 6500'
Friday Freezing Level
4000' - 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Thursday Freezing Level
7500' - 9500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000' - 1000'
Friday 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 Jan 21, 2019

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