Issued: 2:46 PM PDT Wednesday, April 17, 2019
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday

Upper level ridging currently over the PNW this afternoon is allowing plenty of low level clouds and moisture west of the Cascade crest. The ridge will begin to shift inland and flatten tonight as warm frontal moisture brushes Washington state. Precipitation and winds will increase on Thursday for the Olympics and especially the Mt. Baker area as the same frontal boundary taps into a modest amount of subtropical moisture. For areas further east and south of the frontal boundary hung up near the Canadian border, precipitation and cloud cover will taper from north to south across the region. Snow/freezing levels will be quite mild on Thursday with all areas in the warm sector. 

A secondary wave traveling along the frontal boundary will lead the moisture axis southward Thursday night. A good shot of moisture is expected with the frontal passage for the central and north Cascades west of the crest.

While the bulk of the precipitation will fall as rain with this system, rapid cooling and post-frontal showers should make for a blustery and showery Friday with localized snow accumulations above 4500-5000' along the west slopes of the Cascades. A Puget Sound Convergence zone may form Friday morning and last through the evening. Windy but much drier conditions are expected along the east slopes of the Cascades on Friday.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Wednesday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain developing later in the evening. Warming trend.
Mt. Baker
Wednesday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Wednesday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Wednesday Night Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy overnight with increasing high clouds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening S 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening S 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 10 - 20
Thursday Morning S 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 2
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening S 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 10 - 20
Thursday Morning S 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 2
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 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
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 25 - 35 W 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night SW 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night SW 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 30 - 40
Wednesday Night SW 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 10 - 20
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

Showers will quickly taper Friday evening and a rather dry and uneventful weekend weather-wise is on tap for our region. Freezing levels should rebound nicely on Saturday into the 6500-7500 ft range and extend through the weekend.  An approaching frontal system may begin to spread high cloud inland late Sunday afternoon. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 5000' - 6000'
Saturday Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' 6500' - 7500' 6500' - 7500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' 7000' - 8000' 7500' - 8500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Saturday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Sunday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Saturday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Sunday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Saturday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
7500' - 8500'
Sunday Freezing Level
8000' - 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.

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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