Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Wednesday
An active weekend is in store for the PNW as an upper level low in the northerly branch of the jet stream sinks off the B.C./WA coast and merges with the southern branch of the jet currently aimed into northern CA/southern OR. Frontal bands will rotate through the PNW today associated with the upper level low. The heavier periods of precipitation look to be this morning followed by an early afternoon lull for the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Another frontal band will pass through late afternoon/early evening for renewed moderate precipitation. Easterly flow will keep the Passes locally cooler today, with a brief bump up in snow levels expected with a switch to westerly flow early this evening to about 3500-4000 feet. Snow levels in the Crystal/Paradise area should hover around 4000 feet today.
Showers should slightly decrease overnight and become light by Sunday morning except for the Mt. Hood area. By Sunday afternoon southern stream moisture should bring another round of snow, with heavier amounts for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. There is a fair amount of uncertainty about how far north the heftier amounts of snow will reach Sunday afternoon and night. The bulk of the moisture from this system will miss the Olympics but some upslope showers along the north slopes Sunday afternoon and night. Arctic air will begin to move in from the north Sunday night and snow levels should begin to plummet.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Saturday |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, tapering down mid-day before increasing again late afternoon. |
| Saturday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow showers with brief warming Cascade Passes early evening. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Cooler. |
| Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night |
Periods of light snow north Cascades. Light to moderate snow central Cascades. Moderate snow south Cascades. Turning colder. |
Olympics
| Saturday |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, tapering down late morning before increasing again in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Light snow showers. Cooler. |
| Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night |
Periods of light to occasionally moderate snow showers mainly north slopes of the Olympics. Turning colder. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Saturday |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, tapering down mid-day before increasing again late afternoon. Slight warming trend aloft. |
| Saturday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers with brief warming lower elevations. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Light snow showers. Cooler. |
| Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night |
Periods of light snow northeast Cascades. Light to moderate snow central-east Cascades. Moderate snow southeast Cascades. Turning colder. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Saturday |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, tapering down mid-day before increasing again late afternoon. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Sunday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Cooling trend. |
| Sunday |
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. |
Issued: 7:35 AM PST Saturday, February 4, 2017
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 * | 3500' | 2500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 4000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 0' | ' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Night |
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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0 - 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 2.00 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Timberline | 0 - 2.50 | 0 - 2.00 |
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: 7:35 AM PST Saturday, February 4, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | S 10 - 20 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | S 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | ENE 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | E 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | NE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 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 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 35 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 45 - 60 | --- - | SW 50 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 30 - 45 | --- - | SW 60 - 70 |
| Sunday Night | S 0 - 10 | S 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 45 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 60 - 70 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
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 31, 2017
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.