Issued: 7:27 AM PST Saturday, February 3, 2018
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 Saturday & Monday

A broad upper level ridge is anchored offshore just outside of 130W.  NW flow aloft will continue to deliver moist weather systems, riding up and over the ridge through the weekend. Generally light precipitation should be seen today, mainly along the west slopes of the Cascades. Drier air at mid-levels should allow for a mix of sun and clouds for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. Cloud cover should diminish quickly east of the Cascade crest in this pattern. Crest level winds out of the W-NW will stay elevated throughout the weekend. 

Snow levels are hanging around 5000-5500 feet this morning in the central and northwest Cascades but will slowly rise during the day. While warmer air has mixed down to the surface east of the Cascades (Mazama has popped up to 48 deg this morning!), the Washington Pass area will once again be the local cool spot. However, even the northeast Cascades should see an increase in snow levels on Sunday. 

An ill-defined weather system will approach the area tonight from the NW with increasing precipitation and westerly winds through Sunday afternoon. Precipitation will be heaviest along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics, with sharply decreasing precipitation amounts east of the Cascade crest and to a lesser extent down at Mt. Hood. A frontal boundary passing through the area Sunday afternoon will begin to lower snow levels overnight.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing in the afternoon. Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow. Mild.
Sunday Light to moderate rain. Windy. Mild.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing in the afternoon. Becoming mostly cloudy with south Cascades in the afternoon. Slight warming trend.
Saturday Night Light to moderate rain and snow developing north Cascades and spreading southward overnight. Warming trend.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy south and central Cascades. Windy. Mild.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow near the Cascade crest decreasing in the afternoon. Becoming partly to mostly cloudy central and southeast Cascades away from the crest. Slight warming trend.
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing northeast Cascades and spreading southward overnight.
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the crest. Windy. Mild.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow decreasing in the afternoon. Becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Mild. Windy.
Saturday Night Light rain, becoming occasionally moderate rain after midnight. Mild.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain. Mild. Increasing winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level 7000' 5000' 5000' ' ' 5500' ' 8000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 7000' 6000' 5500' ' ' 6500' ' 8000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 8000' 6000' 5000' ' ' 7000' ' 8000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 8000' 6500' 5500' ' ' 7500' ' 8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 7500' 6500' 6500' ' ' 6500' ' 8000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'

* 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

Monday Monday
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 0.75 1.50 - 2.00
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 1.50 - 2.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.00 2.00 - 2.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0 - 0.50
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 - 3.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 - 1.00
0 - 0.50 0 - 1.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 30 --- - W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 --- - W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 WSW 20 - 30 --- - W 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 25 - 35 --- - W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 45 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 45
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Night W 20 - 30
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 45
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Night W 20 - 30
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 30 - 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
Saturday Morning WNW 35 - 45 W 45 - 55 WNW 45 - 55 --- - NW 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50 W 45 - 55 WNW 55 - 70 --- - NW 55 - 65
Saturday Night WNW 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 WNW 45 - 60 --- - WNW 35 - 45
Sunday Morning W 35 - 45 W 45 - 55 W 45 - 55 --- - WNW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon W 35 - 45 W 50 - 60 W 40 - 50 --- - W 40 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Saturday Night WNW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning W 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon W 45 - 55
Saturday Night W 35 - 45
Sunday Morning W 45 - 55
Sunday Afternoon W 50 - 60
Sunday Night W 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon WNW 55 - 70
Saturday Night WNW 45 - 60
Sunday Morning W 45 - 55
Sunday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Sunday Night WNW 40 - 50
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon NW 55 - 65
Saturday Night WNW 35 - 45
Sunday Morning WNW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Sunday Night WNW 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 Jan 31, 2018

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.