Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Thursday
3 pm update: Cloud cover for southern areas on Sunday
A weakening front passed through this afternoon and scattered showers behind the front are winding down except on the Olympic Peninsula and the north Cascades this afternoon. Temperatures have warmed throughout the region, with the most pronounced warming for the Olympics, Mt. Hood and along the southwest Cascades. Sunshine broke out in the Crystal area. The Cascade Passes and the east slopes of the Cascades, especially north of I-90 have been slower to warm.
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 generally upward trend. With cool easterly offshore flow continuing, expect temperature inversions and/or multiple freezing levels for the Cascade Passes (Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes) and Mt. Hood on Sunday. The best chance for sunshine still holds for Mt. Hood and for the southern volcanoes like Mt St Helens, Adams and Rainier with cloudier conditions northward and in the Passes. However, increasing high clouds from the south should limit sunshine for Mt. Hood by mid-afternoon and make for a tight sun window for the south Washington Cascades.
Offshore pressure gradients should tighten Sunday night as the front approaches the coast with E-SE winds increasing and multiple freezing levels continuing. A weakening front will pass through on Monday, gracing the central and northern Washington Cascades with light precipitation.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming periods of light rain and snow overnight. Warming trend. |
| Sunday | Period of light rain. Warming trend. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming periods of light rain and snow overnight. Warming trend. |
| Sunday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow tapering off in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday Night | Light scattered snow showers. Slow warming trend. |
| Sunday | Periods of light rain or snow tapering off mid-day and becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with possible sunbreaks. Slow warming trend. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday Night | Scattered light rain and snow showers becoming periods of light rain and snow overnight. Slow warming trend. Moderate east winds at Pass level. |
| Sunday | Periods of light rain and snow ending mid-day and becoming cloudy with a few sunbreaks possible in the afternoon. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. Moderate east winds at Pass level. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday Night | Scattered light rain and snow showers becoming periods of light rain and snow overnight. Slow warming trend. Increasing ridgetop winds. |
| Sunday | Periods of light rain and snow ending mid-day and becoming partly sunny except mostly cloudy White Pass. Warmer Paradise area. Cooler White Pass and Crystal Mt upper slopes. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Night | Scattered light rain and snow showers tapering off and becoming mostly cloudy. Slow warming trend. |
| Sunday | Mostly cloudy becoming mostly sunny. Increasing high clouds in the afternoon. Mild except cooler lower/mid slopes exposed to SE winds. |
Issued: 3:02 PM PST Saturday, January 18, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 7000' | 6000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' | 6500' | 7000' | 7500' |
| Sunday Evening | Freezing Level * | 7000' | 7000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 7000' | 7000' | 9000' |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 7000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 7000' | 7000' | 9000' |
| Monday Morning | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 5500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' | 6500' | 6000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 5500' | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 *) |
| Sunday Evening |
Freezing Level 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (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 Night | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 3:02 PM PST Saturday, January 18, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SE 5 - 15 | S 15 - 25 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | S 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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.
Issued: 3:02 PM PST Saturday, January 18, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
A progressive weather pattern continues next week with storm systems arriving every 24 hours or so. The timing of the systems is not well handled by the major forecast models, but snow levels should cool behind Monday's front to more seasonable levels.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | * |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | * |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
* 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 Jan 18, 2020
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