Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
A low pressure system will track across southern Vancouver Island tonight. Warm frontal moisture has spread north over most of the forecast area this afternoon. Precipitation rates will generally increase in the afternoon but the heaviest precipitation looks slotted for the early evening for much of the Washington Cascades. Mt. Hood's storm intensity will peak during the afternoon.
All areas will see a warming trend but the highest snow levels will been seen in the south. Initial easterly flow should keep Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes as snow through the afternoon with a switch to rain sometime in the late afternoon through late evening hours. White Pass is likely to see mostly rain from this event at Pass level. A quick 6-12 inches of snow could fall Snoqualmie and Stevens before the switch the rain.
As the low lift tracks to our north, a strong surge of SW winds should be seen tonight through Friday morning. Showers will quickly taper down for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades on Friday, but moderate showers should affect the north Cascades Friday morning. Snow levels should slowly lower through the day on Friday as shower activity and winds diminish.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Light to moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon, becoming moderate in the evening. Increasing winds. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Windy with light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon, becoming occasionally heavy in the evening for the south and central Cascades. Increasing winds. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Windy with light rain and snow showers, except occasionally moderate in the north Cascades. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing in the afternoon, becoming moderate in the evening. Increasing winds. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Windy with light rain and snow showers, except occasionally moderate in the northeast Cascades. Warming trend. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Increasing winds. Mild. |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Windy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy. |
Issued: 5:57 PM PST Thursday, March 9, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 8000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 5000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
* 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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.50 - 2.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 - 2.00 | LT 0.25 |
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: 5:57 PM PST Thursday, March 9, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 30 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 | S 10 - 20 | SW 20 - 35 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 | SSW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 50 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 50 - 65 | --- - | WSW 55 - 65 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 | SW 45 - 55 | SW 60 - 70 | --- - | SW 65 - 80 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 | W 40 - 50 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 50 - 65 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 65 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 65 - 80 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
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.
Issued: 5:57 PM PST Thursday, March 9, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
A relatively mild and progressive weather pattern should be seen through the extended period and for much of next week. A Pacific frontal system will quickly move through the area Saturday afternoon and night with light to moderate amounts of precipitation expected. There won't be much of a break in the weather over the weekend as warm frontal moisture lifts over the area on Sunday. Upper level ridging building along the West Coast will help push the precipitation shield north such that Mt. Hood should stay mostly dry on Sunday. Snow levels will begin to climb Sunday through Monday as the upper level ridge builds and shifts inland. The trailing cold front should come through some time Monday afternoon.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing mid-day.
Light to moderate rain and snow turning to light showers.
Cloudy with light rain and snow mainly affecting the Olympics and north Washington Cascades. Mostly cloudy south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. Milder.
Light to moderate rain and snow developing during the day. Continued mild snow levels.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' | 7500' - 8500' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | 7500' - 8500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' |
* 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Mar 9, 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.
6 PM: Crystal and White Pass Day 1 precipitation forecast increased