Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Thursday
A potent warm front will bring heavy rain and snow to many areas as snow levels rise to just below Cascade Crest level in many areas. The one cold air holdout will be the East-North Cascades near Washington Pass. Through the evening hours, a battle will play out between the cool easterly flow and the warm air spreading in aloft. Snow levels will rise significantly during the day in some areas west of the Cascades such as Hurricane Ridge which is likely to experience a changeover to rain during the day, but most NWAC stations will remain snow because it will take time to wash out the low-level cold air due to that easterly flow. Many low and mid-elevation NWAC stations will experience significant snow totals before a changeover to rain overnight as the warm air ultimately wins the battle once the warm front moves through during the evening hours. The firehose will be aimed at the north-central Cascades Tuesday evening with ample precipitation spilling over to the east slopes as the low slides along the coast of Vancouver Island. At this time, the warm sector of the storm provides a "relative" dry window south of Snoqualmie Pass. The cold frontal passage will bring the heavier precipitation back to all areas after 10 PM.
On Wednesday, the surface low passes over central Washington State during the mid-day hours, creating a moderate convergence off the Olympic Mountains in its wake as northerly flow is ushered down behind the low. Northerly flow will also decrease and end shower activity in the North Cascades. Elsewhere, light to moderate rain and snow showers that will decrease throughout the day and evening hours across the Cascades, with the heaviest rain and snow shower activity Wednesday near Mt. Hood. Snow levels will decrease gradually during the day, but they will remain above Stevens Pass level.
Wednesday night and Thursday a mild warm northwesterly flow and generally fair weather will predominate with a ridge parked offshore.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday Night | Moderate rain and high elevation snow in the evening. Becoming light rain and snow showers after 10 PM. Strong winds becoming moderate. |
| Wednesday | Decreasing light snow showers. Snow level relatively steady around Hurricane Ridge elevation. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy snow in the evening, then rain mixing with snow after 10 PM. Gradually rising snow levels. Moderate winds. |
| Wednesday | Moderate snow showers in the morning, then snow showers ending around noon with partial clearing in the afternoon. Light to moderate winds becoming light in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday Night | Heavy snow in the east-central Cascades, changing to moderate rain and snow as snow levels rise around midnight. Moderate snow in the north, becoming moderate snow showers. Moderate winds. |
| Wednesday | Moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest in the south, ending from north to south as the day progresses. Decreasing moderate winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday Night | Heavy snow mixing with and changing to rain, becoming heavy rain and snow showers after midnight. Snoqualmie should see a changeover to rain before 10 PM while Stevens should see the changeover by midnight. Strong to extreme ridge-top winds. Light easterly pass-level winds becoming moderate westerly. |
| Wednesday | Decreasing moderate rain and snow showers. Gradually lowering snow levels. Moderate winds becoming light to moderate. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow. High snow levels. Strong to extreme winds in the evening, becoming strong overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light to moderate snow showers, decreasing. Crystal mostly blocked. Moderate winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday Night | Light rain and snow in the evening becoming heavy after midnight. Rising snow levels. Strong to extreme winds. |
| Wednesday | Moderate rain and snow showers becoming light snow showers in the afternoon as snow levels lower. Moderate winds becoming light to moderate. |
Issued: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level * | 6000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 6500' | 3500' | 3000' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 5000' | 4000' | 3500' | 5500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5500' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 6000' |
| Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 6000' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 6500' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5500' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 7000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 8500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5500' | 4500' | 5500' | 6500' | 9000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
* 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
| Tuesday Night | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.75 -1.00 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| White Pass | 1.00 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Timberline | 1.00 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 |
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
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: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 | S 20 - 30 | SW 40 - 60 | SW 40 - 60 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 | SW 40 - 60 | WSW 60 - 80 | WSW 65 - 85 | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 45 - 65 | WSW 55 - 75 | W 60 - 80 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 45 | W 30 - 45 | W 55 - 75 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | WNW 40 - 60 | WNW 40 - 60 | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 40 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 65 - 85 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Tuesday Night | W 60 - 80 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 55 - 75 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 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: 2:40 PM PST Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
A shortwave riding over the ridge Thursday evening will likely bring some high clouds, particularly in the north. The ridge will amplify and gradually move eastward so that its axis is along the coastline by Saturday. This will bring increasingly warm days, moderate and mostly clear nights, and the potential for inversions and morning fog in the lowlands. Freezing levels will rise into the 10,000 ft range.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 6000' | 8500' - 9500' | |
| Friday | Freezing Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 5000' | 6500' - 8500' | |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 4500' - 6500' | 5500' - 7000' | 9500' - 11500' | |
| Saturday | Freezing Level | 8000' - 10000' | 9000' - 11000' | 10000' - 12000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 10000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' - 7000' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 9000' - 11000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 8500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' - 11500' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 12000' |
* 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 22, 2019
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.