Issued: 7:06 AM PST Saturday, January 18, 2020
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 Saturday & Friday

A Pacific frontal system will pass through the region today with the cold front pushing through the Cascades around noon. This system is packing a bit less punch than forecasted in terms of precipitation, and the precipitation forecast has been nudged down for the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades. After the front passes through, post-frontal showers will be the most significant from about Stevens Pass northward to Mt. Baker with lighter amounts further south.

The slow warming trend is on track and cold air that has been entrenched over the region for the last week will begin to mix out for the Olympics, southwest Cascades and Mt. Hood today. The Cascade Passes and east slopes of the Cascades will have a much slower warming trend with cool easterly flow continuing over the short term. 

A weak warm frontal feature is forecast to pass from south to north later tonight through Sunday. Upper level ridging over the inland NW will amplify tonight and begin to shunt the light precipitation northward into Canada. Snow and freezing levels will continue their general upward trend. With cool easterly offshore flow continuing, expect temperature inversions and/or multiple freezing levels for the Cascade Passes and Mt. Hood.  The best chance for sunshine on Sunday should be for Mt. Hood and south/central Cascades with a clearing trend beginning later in the morning and continuing through the afternoon. 

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
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 2500' 500' 0' 0' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 3000' 0' 1000' 1500' 2500' 3500' 4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 0' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4000' 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 5000' 3500' 0' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4500' 5500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level * 5500' 4500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3500' 5500' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning S 25 - 35 S 20 - 30 SE 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SE 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning S 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening S 5 - 15
Saturday Night SE 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening S 5 - 15
Saturday Night SE 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SE 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
Saturday Morning SW 45 - 55 SW 40 - 50 SW 40 - 50 SW 40 - 50 WSW 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 SW 30 - 40 WSW 40 - 50
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40 - 50
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon S 20 - 30

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 17, 2020

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