Issued: 7:37 AM PST Wednesday, February 15, 2017
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 Wednesday & Tuesday

A moist frontal system in SW flow aloft is slowly shifting heavier precipitation into the south and central Washington Cascades this morning. High freezing levels seen in this pattern will continue through tonight, however low level easterly flow will maintain freezing rain in the Cascade Passes. The cold pool on the east side of the state is not as cold as previous storms this winter, making the likelihood of plain rain for the upper elevations even in the Passes possible.

As the frontal band lifts NE today, there should be a reprieve from the precipitation mid-day before a secondary low pressure system offshore tracks in a similar fashion and spreads renewed precipitation first along the Olympics and northwest Cascades this afternoon and pushes precipitation inland during the late afternoon and evening.  As this frontal boundary slides through overnight, expect a slow cooling trend to begin Wednesday night for the Olympics, Mt. Hood and the west slopes of the Cascades. The snow levels in the Washington Pass area may peak Thursday morning before colder air begins to trickle into the east slopes. The slow cooling trend should continue on Thursday with lighter showers expected through Thursday night. 

Weather Forecast

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day

Moderate heavy rain and snow west slopes of the Cascades, heavy Mt. Baker area. Freezing rain lower elevations of the Cascade Passes. Precipitation easing late morning. Windy.  

Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night

Renewed moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow late in the afternoon, with continued freezing rain in the Cascade Passes. Heaviest rain and snow Mt. Baker area. Windy. Slow cooling trend late Wednesday night.  

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day

Light to moderate rain and snow. Freezing rain lower elevations of the east slopes of the Cascades. Precipitation easing mid-day. Windy.  

Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night

Renewed light to moderate rain and snow late in the late afternoon, with continued freezing rain lower slopes. Windy.  

Olympics
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day

Moderate rain and snow. Precipitation easing late morning. Windy.  

Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night

Renewed moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Windy. Slow cooling trend late Wednesday night.  

Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday

Light to moderate rain and snow. Windy. Mild. 

Wednesday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow. Windy. Mild. Slight cooling trend late Wednesday night.  

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 8000' 7500' 4500' ' ' 8500' ' 10000'
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level * 8500' 7500' 5500' ' ' 8500' ' 9500'
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 6000' ' ' 6000' ' 6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 5000' ' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Tuesday Tuesday
Hurricane Ridge 0 - 1.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 4.00 0 - 1.00
Washington Pass 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 2.00 - 2.50 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 - 2.50 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0 - 1.00 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75
0 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning SSW 15 - 25 S 30 - 40 SE 25 - 35 --- - SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Mid-day SW 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 --- - SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35 SSE 15 - 25 ESE 15 - 25 --- - S 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SSW 35 - 45 SSW 30 - 40 SE 20 - 35 --- - SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Mid-day SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SSW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning S 30 - 40
Wednesday Mid-day S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Mid-day SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SE 20 - 35
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Mid-day --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Mid-day SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Mid-day SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SSW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning S 30 - 40
Wednesday Mid-day S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Mid-day SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SE 20 - 35
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Mid-day --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Mid-day SSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20

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
Wednesday Morning SW 50 - 60 SW 40 - 50 SW 55 - 65 --- - SW 60 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 45 - 55 S 20 - 30 SW 40 - 50 --- - SW 60 - 75
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60 SW 25 - 35 SW 50 - 60 --- - SW 50 - 70
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 50 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 45 - 55
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Mid-day SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Mid-day SW 30 - 40
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 55 - 65
Wednesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Mid-day SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night --- -
Wednesday Mid-day --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 60 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon SW 60 - 75
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 50 - 70
Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night WSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Mid-day SW 40 - 50

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 Feb 5, 2017

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