Issued: 1:48 PM PDT Thursday, April 9, 2020
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

We're in for a slight change in the weather as wrap-up the week and head into the weekend. Expect cool and clear conditions Thursday night with inversions once again bring chilly temperatures to the mountain valleys and passes, while higher elevations slopes stay mild. Things begin to change on Friday as a weak shortwave system crossing British Columbia pushes up against the high-pressure ridge that's been keeping us warm and dry. While the ridge holds most of the precipitation out of our area, the system does manage to bring clouds and cooler air into the Pacific Northwest. On Friday, most locations will see clouds moving in from the north and growing thicker in the afternoon. Cooler air, sliding in from Canada, will limit day time warming and a few locations could even see temperatures fall throughout the day. While you can't ruler out a stray shower near the Canadian border, most locations will remain dry.

As the weak weather system pushes past Friday night, a concentrated round of light showers could sweep through the Cascades, with most of the activity focussed from highway 2 north. Don't look for much in the way of precipitation from this little system. At most, a few locations may see a healthy dusting of snow. The biggest impacts for our region as a whole will be the cooler temperatures and increasing winds. 

By Saturday morning, most of the precipitation exits the region, and we're left with clearing skies and cool dry northwesterly flow. As the ridge in the Pacific rebounds, we should quickly return to warm sunny days and cool clear nights. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Clear with a few high thin clouds.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Clear with a few high thin clouds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Clear with a few high thin clouds possible.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Clear with the possibility of a few high thin clouds. Light westerly pass level winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Clear with the possibility of a few high thin clouds.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Clear with the possibility of a few high thin clouds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Freezing Level 11000' 9500' 10000' 11500' 11500' 11500' 12000' 12000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 10000' 9000' 9000' 11000' 10500' 11000' 11500' 11500'
Friday Morning Freezing Level 9000' 7500' 7500' 9500' 9000' 9000' 10500' 11000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level 8500' 7000' 7000' 8000' 7500' 7500' 8500' 11000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level 8000' 6500' 6500' 7500' 6500' 6500' 7500' 10000'
Friday Night Freezing Level 7000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 7500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level 5000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
10000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
7000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
9500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
10000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
11500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
11000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
9500'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
6000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
11500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
10500'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
11500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
11000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
12000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
11500'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
12000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
11500'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
10000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
7500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WNW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NNW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15 NW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Night NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night NNW 5 - 15
Friday Morning NW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Night NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night NNW 5 - 15
Friday Morning NW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 5 - 15
Thursday Night NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon NW 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 Evening NW 20 - 30 NW 20 - 30 NW 25 - 35 NW 15 - 25 NNW 15 - 25
Thursday Night NW 30 - 40 NW 25 - 35 NW 30 - 40 NW 25 - 35 NNW 20 - 30
Friday Morning NW 25 - 35 NW 20 - 30 NW 30 - 40 NW 30 - 40 NNW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 20 - 30
Thursday Night NW 30 - 40
Friday Morning NW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 20 - 30
Thursday Night NW 25 - 35
Friday Morning NW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 25 - 35
Thursday Night NW 30 - 40
Friday Morning NW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon NW 35 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 15 - 25
Thursday Night NW 25 - 35
Friday Morning NW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon NW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NNW 15 - 25
Thursday Night NNW 20 - 30
Friday Morning NNW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon NW 30 - 40

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

As we move through the weekend, we once again settle into a rhythm of cold clear nights and warm sunny days. Look for temperatures inversions to develop each evening in the mountain valleys and passes, allowing lower elevations sites to get downright chilly. After a nippy start each morning, sunny skies should allow temperatures to rise quickly. The extended forecast period doesn't appear too hot, however. Cool north to northwest flow should keep this stretch of dry weather a bit milder than we experienced the first week of April. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Freezing Level 2500' - 4500' 4000' - 6000' 5000' - 6500' *
Sunday Freezing Level 4000' - 6000' 4000' - 6000' 5500' - 7000' *
Sunday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5500' 4500' - 6000' 6500' - 7500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
4000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5500'
Monday Freezing Level
5500' - 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
4000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4500' - 6000'
Monday Freezing Level
5500' - 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5000' - 6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Freezing Level
5500' - 7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Monday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'

* 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 8, 2020

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.