Issued: 7:19 AM PST Monday, January 27, 2014
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Monday & Thursday

The skinny upper level ridge that is currently centered along the US west coast and extends far north into the Yukon will continue to weaken today as a Pacific frontal system approaches. The front will spread mid and high clouds inland today...but will weaken and split as it reaches the Olympic peninsula overnight. Easterly flow through the Cascade passes could allow for a light mix of precipitation types from late Monday night through Tuesday afternoon. The front will decay over the west slopes on Tuesday, but a another upper level wave will around 130 W on Tuesday night should pass through Cascades and Mt. Hood area Tuesday night delivering a more substantial shot of precipitation.  Snow levels should be on the mild side until some slightly cooler air arrives late Tuesday night. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Monday Morning - Monday Evening

Partly sunny, with increasing mid and high clouds in the afternoon and evening.  Cooler Cascade passes, mostly cloudy and breezy Snoqualmie Pass. 

Monday Night

Light rain and snow mainly Olympics with very light precipitation possible west slopes of the Cascades. Otherwise mostly cloudy.

Tuesday

Light rain and snow, except light possible mixed precipitation near Cascade passes.  

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday Morning - Monday Evening

Partly to mostly sunny, with increasing high clouds in the afternoon and evening.  Cloudy lower slopes. 

Monday Night

Partly cloudy except cloudy lower slopes. 

Tuesday

Light rain and snow, except light possible mixed precipitation near Cascade passes.  

Mt. Hood Area
Monday Morning - Monday Evening

Partly to mostly cloudy, with increasing mid and high clouds in the afternoon and evening.  

Monday Night - Tuesday

Light rain and snow.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Morning Freezing Level * 9500' ' ' ' ' 7500' ' 9000'
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level * 8500' ' ' ' ' 7500' ' 8000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 6500' ' ' ' ' 3500' ' 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level * 6000' ' ' ' ' 5000' ' 7000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10 --- - ESE 10 - 20 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon S 0 - 10 --- - ESE 15 - 30 --- - SE 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15 --- - SE 10 - 20 --- - S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 --- - S 10 - 20 --- - SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon ESE 15 - 30
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon ESE 15 - 30
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Tuesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Morning --- - --- - NW 10 - 20 --- - NW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning --- - --- - W 5 - 15 --- - W 5 - 15
Tuesday --- - --- - W 20 - 30 --- - W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday W 20 - 30
Tuesday Night W 20 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday W 15 - 25
Tuesday Night WSW 30 - 45

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

The jet stream and associated precipitation from the frontal system should sag south on Wednesday...taking the heavier precipitation down into Mt. Hood and allowing snow levels to cool further. Showers could be on the heavier side for Mt. Hood on Wednesday.  Forecast details are messy through the extended, but the general idea is that the flow will turn more northerly Wednesday night into Thursday as a long wave trough in the northerly branch of the jet stream digs over the PNW.  A weak surface low may develop offshore Thursday, and help direct showers inland at even cooler snow levels...mainly for the west slopes and Mt. Hood.  A drying trend should begin sometime Friday and extend into the weekend.  

Extended Weather

Olympics and Washington Cascades
Wednesday - Thursday Night

Light rain and snow showers, occasionally moderate west slopes.   Cooling trend. 

Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers ending. 

Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday

Moderate rain and snow showers.  Cooling trend. 

Thursday - Friday

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, cooler. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Morning Snow Level ' - ' 4000' - 5000' 5000' - 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level ' - ' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
' - '
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
' - '
Thursday Night - Friday Snow Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Night - Friday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Night - Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'

* 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 Jan 22, 2014

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