Issued: 8:14 AM PDT Friday, April 21, 2017
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Thursday

The big news is that an entire day of dryness and relative warmth is on tap for Friday. A high amplitude upper level ridge will move over the West Coast today. After a relatively cool start this morning with most mountain sites in the mid to upper 20s, freezing levels should rise into the 7500-9000 ft range over the Olympics and Cascades. As has been the case with dry weather forecasts as of late, there are a few caveats. The next approaching frontal system should start to spread some high cloud over the area from the SW in the afternoon. Also, offshore gradients will increase though the Passes creating locally breezy conditions this afternoon and tonight. Crest level E-SE winds particularly in the southern/central Washington Cascades and the Mt. Hood area will increase overnight as the next Pacific frontal system approaches.

Mid and high level clouds will increase Friday night in advance of the front, but precipitation should hold off until Saturday morning. Rain and snow will lift northeast over the area during the day on Saturday, followed by post-frontal showers late Saturday afternoon. Showers should taper off Saturday night.  

Weather Forecast

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Friday

Mostly sunny. Warmer. Locally breezy E-SE winds. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. 

Friday Night

Becoming partly to mostly cloudy. Locally breezy E-SE winds. 

Saturday

Light rain and snow developing mid-morning and becoming light rain and snow showers in the afternoon, occasionally moderate in the Mt. Baker area. A few sunbreaks in the southwest Cascades in the afternoon. 

Olympics
Friday

Mostly sunny. Warmer. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. 

Friday Night

Becoming partly to mostly cloudy.

Saturday

Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing mid-morning and becoming light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. 

Mt. Hood Area
Friday

Mostly sunny. Warmer. Locally breezy E-SE winds. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. 

Friday Night

Becoming partly to mostly cloudy. Locally breezy E-SE winds. 

Saturday

Very light rain and snow developing in the morning and becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday

Mostly sunny. Warmer. Increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. 

Friday Night

Becoming partly cloudy. 

Saturday

Cloudy with light rain and snow developing mid-morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon.

 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Freezing Level * 4500' 3500' 3500' ' ' 3500' ' 4500'
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level * 7500' 7500' 7000' ' ' 7500' ' 8500'
Saturday Snow Level 5500' 5500' 5500' ' ' 5500' ' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon - Friday Night Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'

* 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 - 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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 N 5 - 15 N 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 --- - NW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15 SE 5 - 15 SE 20 - 30 --- - S 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning S 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 --- - S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 --- - SW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning N 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning N 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning E 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Friday Night - Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning NW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 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.

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

Previous forecast from Apr 21, 2017

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