Issued: 2:34 PM PST Tuesday, January 28, 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 Tuesday & Sunday

A weak front has run into a high amplitude ridge and managed to shift the upper level ridge axis east of the Cascades. Light periods of rain and snow, with mixed precipitation near the Cascade passes are expected to continue overnight. A developing wave offshore near 135W/45N will approach the Pacific Northwest overnight. The surface low should curl towards Vancouver Island early Wednesday morning...bringing an increase in precipitation intensity overnight but keeping the air mass relatively mild over the area.  Easterly flow should allow for a mix of precipitation types at the passes, especially Snoqualmie Pass, before the flow becomes westerly by early to mid morning on Wednesday.

Steady rain and snow should turn to showers on Wednesday and Wednesday night with a strong cooling trend occurring Wednesday night. Winds will be strongest down near Mt. Hood, with a strong jet sagging south over northern Oregon by early Thursday morning. 

Weather Forecast

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

Periods of light rain and snow, except mixed precipitation including freezing rain for the Cascade Passes.  Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Moderate rain and snow Olympics spreading to the Washington Cascades in the late evening and becoming moderate to late Tuesday night.  Mixed precipitation, including freezing rain, likely Cascade Passes through early Wednesday morning. Winds increasing overnight. Continued mild.  

Wednesday Morning

Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate to heavy showers. Windy. Snow levels becoming free-air levels near Cascade Passes mid-morning. 

Wednesday Afternoon

Light to moderate rain and snow showers.  Gradual cooling through the day.    

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Tuesday

Periods of very light snow. 

Tuesday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow beginning in the late evening and becoming moderate late Tuesday night.  Mixed precipitation possible lower valleys. Winds increasing overnight. Becoming mild.  

Wednesday Morning

Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers. Snow levels becoming free-air levels in northeast Cascades late morning. Windy. 

Wednesday Afternoon

Light rain and snow showers. Gradual cooling through the day.    

Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday

Periods of light rain and snow.  Mild. 

Tuesday Night

Moderate rain and snow increasing in the evening and becoming moderate to heavy after midnight. Winds increasing overnight. Continued mild.  

Wednesday Morning

Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate to heavy showers. Windy. 

Wednesday Afternoon

Light to moderate rain and snow showers.  Gradual cooling through the day.  Continued strong winds.  

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level * 6500' ' ' ' ' 6000' ' 7500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 5500' ' ' ' ' 5000' ' 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level 4000' ' ' ' ' 4000' ' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 5 - 15 --- - SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 25 - 35 --- - SW 20 - 30 --- - SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon NW 10 - 20 --- - WSW 30 - 40 --- - SW 40 - 50
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 25 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 25 - 40

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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

Cooler weather will settle in for Thursday through Saturday.  Northerly flow will begin to take over Thursday as a trough digs down toward us from B.C and Alberta.  A surface low should develop somewhere off of Vancouver Island and the Washington Coast Thursday...and help direct showers back over the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.  The low will pull further south and offshore on Friday...with Washington and Oregon left in no-man's land of the split flow by Saturday.  This should lead to at least partial clearing and diminished shower activity.   

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Thursday - Friday Morning

Light to moderate snow showers.  Cooler. 

Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening

Light snow showers diminishing with partial clearing

Friday Night - Saturday

Partly cloudy with isolated showers.  

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday - Friday Morning

Light snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest.  Cooler. 

Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening

Scattered light snow showers diminishing with partial clearing.

Friday Night - Saturday

Partly cloudy.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Thursday - Friday Snow Level ' - ' 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday - Friday Snow Level
' - '
Friday Night - Saturday Freezing Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday - Friday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Friday Night - Saturday Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday - Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Friday Night - Saturday Freezing Level
2500' - 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.

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 28, 2014

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