A significant winter storm will bring a variety of weather hazards to Washington and Oregon on Thursday, with damaging winds, heavy mountain snow, ice, and heavy rainfall expected. Atop of Mt Rainier, NOAA is forecasting 10.5 FEET of snow by end of the day Sunday.
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. The icy volcano gives way to ancient forest on Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the mountain ecosystems.
NOAA Forecast
Today: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 22. Windy, with a south wind 36 to 39 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 15 to 21 inches possible
Tonight: Snow before 10pm, then snow showers, mainly after 10pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 4. Windy, with a west southwest wind around 34 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches possible.
Friday: Snow showers. High near 8. Windy, with a west southwest wind 30 to 32 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.
Friday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 10pm, then snow after 4am. Low around 8. Windy, with a south southwest wind 31 to 36 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Saturday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 21. Windy, with a south southwest wind around 37 mph, with gusts as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 18 to 24 inches possible.
Saturday Night: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 13. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 34 to 40 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 16. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.
As you can see in this satellite image, all of this moisture sitting in the Northern Pacific Ocean is headed right for Mt Rainier.
Location of Mt Rainier
Mount Rainier Facts
- Also known as Mount Tacoma, or Mount Tahoma.
- Mount Rainier is the highest mountain of the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, and the highest mountain in the state of Washington.
- It’s summit elevation of 14,411 ft (4,392 m).
- Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is on the Decade Volcano list.
- Last eruption: 1894
Cover photo by Daniel Smith