Issued: 7:09 AM PST Thursday, January 16, 2020
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Tuesday

In the short-term, the region receives some minor and temporary reprieve from the extremely active weather pattern thus far in January. Several warm frontal passages have reduced the chance of lowland snow in most areas as temperatures hover in the 30's and 40's throughout the Puget Sound region, with the exception of northern Watcom County where moderate Fraser River outflow continues to keep temperatures below freezing.

Winds have generally been tapering off as a rapidly weakening low pressure fizzles near the north tip of Vancouver Island Thursday morning. A weakening associated cold frontal boundary lingers just west of the Cascades early Thursday morning should push some light snowfall into the Cascades during the morning hours. 

Light snow showers are moving into the region on a SW flow with a trough axis in the nearshore waters, behind the front. These weak, instability snow showers should spread back into the Cascades behind the frontal boundary by the afternoon. The heaviest snow showers should be on the SW slopes of the Olympic mountains. The trough weakens slightly as it moves over the region Thursday night, bringing some cooling, continued light snow showers, and some cooling of the atmosphere and a shift to more W flow.

Light snow showers should decrease Friday morning as the trough shifts east and a warm frontal boundary begins to lift northward ahead of the next system, bringing light snow to the Mt. Hood area late in the day.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning Snow Level 1000' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 1000' 1000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level 0' 0' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
0'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
0'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
0'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 0 - 10 W 15 - 25
Thursday Night SSW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SSE 0 - 10 SSE 5 - 15 SSW 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 SSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning S 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning S 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning S 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning S 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning S 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SSW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning SSW 25 - 35 SSW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening SSW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 30 - 40
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 35 - 45
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 W 35 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Thursday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Thursday Evening SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 15 - 25
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Night W 25 - 35
Friday Morning W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 25 - 35
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Evening W 30 - 40
Thursday Night W 35 - 45
Friday Morning W 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40

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 15, 2020

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