Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Wednesday
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. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
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. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend beginning Thursday afternoon. |
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. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
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. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
Issued: 7:37 AM PST Wednesday, February 15, 2017
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' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
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: 7:37 AM PST Wednesday, February 15, 2017
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 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| 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 |
| Wednesday Mid-day | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| 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
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.