Issued: 7:30 AM PDT Tuesday, March 14, 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 Tuesday & Tuesday

Moist W-SW flow will continue to deliver mainly rain to the Cascades and Olympics today and tonight with a relative lull this afternoon (but still not dry). Low level easterly low through the Cascade Passes early this morning is locally suppressing snow levels to around 6000 feet. Snow levels will rise to 7000 feet or higher for all areas this afternoon. SW winds at crest level will stay elevated through the short term.  

Another wave moving along the frontal boundary will shift steadier and heavier precipitation back into the area overnight. One last slug of moisture associated with this frontal boundary will develop off the Oregon coast early Wednesday morning and finally shift the entire axis of precipitation east of the Cascades Wednesday evening.

A slow cooling trend should begin on Wednesday with accumulating snows likely in the alpine throughout the day. Snow levels will cool significantly Wednesday night as we transition to showers.   

Weather Forecast

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

Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Mild. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Cloudy with periods of light rain, occasionally moderate southern Cascade volcanoes. Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Moderate rain and snow. Mild. 

Wednesday

Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest south Washington Cascades. Slow cooling trend. 

Olympics
Tuesday Morning

Moderate rain and snow. Mild. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Cloudy with periods of light rain. Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow. Mild. 

Wednesday

Light rain and snow. Slow cooling trend. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Tuesday Morning

Light to moderate rain and snow. Warming trend. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Cloudy with periods of light rain. Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Mild. 

Wednesday

Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest southeast Washington Cascades. 

Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday

Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Mild. 

Wednesday

Moderate rain and snow. Slow cooling trend. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 7000' 5500' 5000' ' ' 6000' ' 8000'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level 7000' 7000' 7000' ' ' 7500' ' 8000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level 6000' 6000' 6500' ' ' 6500' ' 7500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 4500' 5500' ' ' 5500' ' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
7500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
8000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'

* 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 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 - 1.00
Washington Pass 0.75 - 1.00 0 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.50 0 - 1.00
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 - 1.00
Paradise 2.00 - 3.00 0 - 1.50
White Pass 0 - 2.00 0 - 1.00
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 1.00 0 - 1.50
1.00 - 1.50 0 - 2.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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
Tuesday Morning SW 40 - 50 SW 50 - 60 SW 55 - 65 --- - SW 50 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35 - 45 SW 40 - 50 SW 35 - 45 --- - SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 45 - 55
Wednesday SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 40 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night SW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 50 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night SW 30 - 40
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 55 - 65
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night SW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 50 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Night SW 45 - 55
Wednesday SW 40 - 50
Wednesday 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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Mar 13, 2017

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