Issued: 7:12 AM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2018
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 Tuesday & Wednesday

A pair of weak disturbances will move through the upper level ridge centered over the inland NW over the next 24 hours, temporarily flattening the ridge. The first one passing through today will only bring mid and high level clouds, the second one tonight will bring a chance for some very light showers. Snow/freezing levels will stay mild through the short term and offshore easterly flow will stay in the light to moderate range throughout the short term. Low clouds and cooler temperatures will be seen in the Cascade Passes,  lower elevations along the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.  

The ridge will briefly rebuild over the area Wednesday and general cloudiness should decrease during the day.  An open trough rotating up from a previously cut-off low pressure system off the California coast will eject northward Wednesday night, bringing a chance of light showers late Wednesday night to the Mt. Hood area. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds. Mild.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow. Mild.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Mild.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds. Low clouds, breezy east winds and cooler temperatures Cascade Passes.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow. Low clouds, breezy east winds and cooler temperatures Cascade Passes.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Low clouds, breezy east winds and cooler temperatures Cascade Passes.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Tuesday Mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Partly to mostly cloudy with mid and high clouds. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of very light rain or snow. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Freezing Level * 9500' 9000' 8500' ' ' 9500' ' 10500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level * 6000' 6000' 5000' ' ' 6500' ' 7000'
Wednesday Freezing Level * 9000' 9000' 8000' ' ' 9000' ' 9500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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

Wednesday Wednesday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ESE 15 - 25 --- - ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 --- - ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 ESE 5 - 15 --- - SE 0 - 10
Wednesday SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 --- - E 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SE 0 - 10
Wednesday SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning E 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday E 0 - 10
Wednesday Night E 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Wednesday ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 0 - 10
Wednesday E 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SE 0 - 10
Wednesday SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning E 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday E 0 - 10
Wednesday Night E 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Wednesday ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 0 - 10
Wednesday E 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20

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 Morning SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 --- - S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 --- - SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 SW 15 - 25 --- - SW 10 - 20
Wednesday SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 0 - 10
Wednesday SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night W 0 - 10
Wednesday SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Wednesday SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Wednesday SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SSE 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 Jan 1, 2018

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