Issued: 7:22 AM PST Sunday, February 4, 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 Sunday & Monday

Moisture continues to stream into the region in NW flow aloft, riding up and over a stationary upper level ridge parked offshore. Moderate to heavy precipitation (mostly rain) will continue along the west slopes of the Cascades today, with far less precipitation for Mt. Hood. Downsloping east of the Cascades crest will quickly taper precipitation totals for the east slopes of the Cascades. The north Cascades on both sides of the crest are again the relatively local cool spot with snow levels not forecast to rise much higher than 6000 feet today. 

Moderate to strong westerly winds will be seen in most locations and elevations in this pattern. A weak frontal boundary will pass through later this afternoon, changing steady precipitation to showers with intensities lowering and ushering in somewhat cooler air. Snow levels will gradually fall overnight and settle between 3500-4500 feet on Monday.  Showers should continue in W-NW flow, again mainly for the west slopes of the Cascades, with new snowfall accumulations expected above 4000 feet for Snoqualmie Pass to Mt. Baker.

NW flow will keep plenty of moisture and clouds banked up along the west slopes of the Cascades Monday and Monday night. The ridge will amplify offshore on Monday and begin to slide back towards the PNW Monday night, helping to bring shower activity to an end. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain becoming light showers in the afternoon. Mild.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Cooling trend.
Monday Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Sunday Rain, heavy at times becoming slightly lighter in the afternoon. Less precipitation for the Crystal area. Mild. Slightly cooler with moderate to heavy rain and snow Mt. Baker area. Moderate to strong winds.
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. Windy.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers central and north Cascades. Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers south Cascades. Cooler.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest, becoming slightly lighter late in the afternoon. Partial clearing further east. Mild. Moderate to strong winds.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers mainly near the Cascade crest. Cooling trend. Windy.
Monday Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers mainly near the Cascade crest. Cooler.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow increasing in the afternoon. Mild. Windy.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. Windy.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Cooler.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning Snow Level 8000' 5000' 5500' ' ' 7000' ' 8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 7000' 6000' 6000' ' ' 6500' ' 7500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 4500' 4000' 4500' ' ' 4500' ' 5500'
Monday Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 3500' ' 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level 3500' 3000' 3000' ' ' 3000' ' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Snow Level
4000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
Monday Snow Level
4000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Snow Level
4000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
8000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
Monday Snow Level
4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
7000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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 Feb 3, 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.