Issued: 7:31 AM PST Wednesday, March 8, 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 & Saturday

An active weather pattern will continue across the Pacific Northwest over the next several days with a broad area of low pressure located off the coast of British Columbia and strong westerly flow aloft. There will be a strong north to south snow level gradient over the next two days with the higher snow levels further to the south. 

Snow showers will be heaviest for Mt. Hood today with lighter showers for the Olympics and the west slopes of the Washington Cascades. A weak low pressure system offshore will track across Puget Sound later this afternoon and evening, increasing precipitation intensity and causing a slight warming trend for Snoqualmie Pass and southward this evening. Showers will decrease as the low passes to the east Thursday morning with a relative break between systems. 

A stronger low pressure system is forecast to track across the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Friday. The warm front will push across the area from the SE on Friday, causing moderate to occasionally heavy precipitation for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades in the afternoon. Heavier precipation will push further north Thursday night along with a strong warming trend outside of the NW Cascades and the Olympics. Winds will become very strong to the south of the low pressure system later Thursday afternoon and night. 

Weather Forecast

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

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, sunbreaks mostly likely north Cascasdes. Snow showers occasionally moderate in convergence zone between Skagit and Snohomish County. 

 

Wednesday Afternoon

Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing Stevens Pass and south. Rain and snow light to occasionally moderate south Washington Cascades.  

Wednesday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers after midnight. Slight warming trend in the evening especially central and south Washington Cascades. 

Thursday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers. 

Thursday Afternoon

Light rain and snow developing north and central Cascades. Light to moderate rain and snow south Washington Cascades. Slow warming trend. 

Olympics
Wednesday Morning

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

 

Wednesday Afternoon

Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing.  

Wednesday Night

Light rain and snow becoming light showers after midnight. 

Thursday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers. 

Thursday Afternoon

Light rain and snow developing. Slow warming trend. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers mainly near the crest. 

 

Wednesday Afternoon

Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing central-east and southeast Cascades.   

Wednesday Night

Light rain and snow becoming light showers after midnight. Slight warming trend in the late evening especially central-east and southeast Washington Cascades. 

Thursday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers. 

Thursday Afternoon

Light rain and snow developing northeast and central-east Cascades. Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow southeast Washington Cascades. Slow warming trend. 

Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday Morning

Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Windy. 

 

Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening

Moderate rain and snow with a warming trend. Windy.  

Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning

Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Windy.  

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 500' 500' 500' ' ' 1000' ' 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' ' ' 2000' ' 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level * 2000' 1000' 1000' ' ' 3000' ' 6000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1500' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 2500' 3000' ' ' 4000' ' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
5500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
6500'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 --- - W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 --- - W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night WSW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 WSW 15 - 25 --- - W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15 --- - SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15 SE 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20 --- - SW 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Thursday Night SSW 25 - 40
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Thursday Night SW 45 - 55
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning S 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Thursday Night SSW 25 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Thursday Night SW 45 - 55

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 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45 WSW 50 - 60 --- - W 55 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening WSW 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 WSW 45 - 55 --- - WSW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning W 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 45 - 55 --- - WSW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 55 - 65 --- - WSW 55 - 65
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Thursday Night SW 35 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Thursday Night SW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 50 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening WSW 45 - 55
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning WSW 45 - 55
Thursday Afternoon SW 55 - 65
Thursday Night SW 55 - 65
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 55 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening WSW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning WSW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon WSW 55 - 65
Thursday Night SW 65 - 75

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 26, 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.