Issued: 7:23 AM PST Sunday, February 2, 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 Sunday & Wednesday

A weak shortwave will approach the Pacific Northwest from the northwest today.  This upper level feature should bring little appreciable weather except for an increase in clouds in the afternoon and some light snow showers from this afternoon through the overnight.  Strong high pressure in the Yukon will begin to slide down the leeside of the Rockies on Monday...and begin the process of driving very cold air over to the west side of the Cascades.  Light snow showers should continue on Monday and Monday night for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area with a weak surface low off the Oregon/Washington coast.   Snow levels will gradually lower to near sea level by Tuesday morning and easterly flow through the passes will pick up Monday night.  Go Hawks. 

Weather Forecast

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

Partly to mostly clear with increasing clouds spreading southeast from the Olympics and north Cascades during the day.  Low clouds valleys and near Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes.  Light snow showers beginning in the afternoon. 

Sunday Night - Monday

Mostly cloudy with light snow showers.  Clearing on Monday from the north.   

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday

Mostly sunny with increasing clouds late in the afternoon.  Light snow showers possible in the afternoon. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday

Partly to mostly clear with increasing clouds spreading inland during the afternoon.  Low clouds valleys and approaches near Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes.  Light snow showers near the crest beginning in the afternoon. 

Sunday Night - Monday

Mostly cloudy with light snow showers.   

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Snow Level * 1500' ' ' ' ' 1000' ' 2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 500' ' ' ' ' 500' ' 1500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday - Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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

Wednesday Wednesday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25
LT 0.10 LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday N 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10 --- - SW 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning N 5 - 15 --- - W 0 - 10 --- - NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening NE 5 - 15 --- - E 5 - 15 --- - E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday N 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning N 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening NE 5 - 15
Monday Night NE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening --- -
Monday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening E 5 - 15
Monday Night E 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday SW 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night E 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday N 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning N 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening NE 5 - 15
Monday Night NE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening --- -
Monday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening E 5 - 15
Monday Night E 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday SW 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night E 10 - 20

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 --- - --- - VAR 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning --- - --- - N 0 - 10 --- - NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning N 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning NW 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night E 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

A cold and mainly dry week is in store for the region.  Free-air 5000 ft temperatures should bottom out in the single digits Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Easterly flow will pick up on Tuesday and Wednesday...and affect up to crest level for the central Washington Cascades down to Mt. Hood.  Light upslope snow showers should gradually ease on Tuesday along the east slopes of the Washington Cascades and the northern slopes of the Olympics.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday - Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy with lingering light upslope snow showers east slopes of the Cascades.  Cold. Breezy in the passes and Mt. Hood area.  

Wednesday - Thursday

Mostly clear and continued cold.  Breezy in the passes and near Mt. Hood. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday - Thursday Freezing Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday - Thursday Freezing Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday - Thursday Freezing Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 Feb 1, 2014

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