Issued: 4:04 PM PST Saturday, March 3, 2018
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Thursday

A trough sits over the U.S. west coast with an embedded closed low off the coast of central Oregon slowly drifting south on Saturday, while a second closed low within the same trough is spinning over southern Alberta on Saturday morning and will drift north and slightly west today and tonight. The diverging lows will move moisture away from the forecast area. Convection is in the forecast and is bringing deeper cumulus clouds to most mountain locations this afternoon, with some scattered moderate-intensity snow showers mostly south of I-90.

Tonight, the low off the coast of Oregon ejects east as the trough begins moving eastward. 

On Saturday as the trough exits, a very weak shortwave trough will rotate around the Alberta low, bringing another chance of light snow shower activity late Sunday and Sunday night.

Snow levels will be below pass level thorughout the short-term forecast period.

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Light NE or calm wind with clouds and occasional light snow along the lower elevation N flanks of the Olympics. Otherwise, clear in the morning with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear.
Sunday Clear in the morning, becoming cloudy with a slight chance of a snow shower late in the day.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Cumulus clouds with moderate-intensity showers mostly south of I-90, decreasing as the sun goes down.
Saturday Night Mostly clear.
Sunday Clear skies giving way to mostly cloudy skies in the morning in the north and central parts and including the southern part by afternoon. A chance of light snow showers later in the day.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Cumulus clouds with moderate-intensity showers mostly south of I-90, decreasing as the sun goes down.
Saturday Night Mostly clear.
Sunday Clear skies giving way to mostly cloudy skies in the morning in the north and central parts and including the southern part by afternoon. A chance of light snow showers later in the day. Mostly clear farther away from the Cascade Crest.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Moderate convective showers. 1-2" accumulations likely.
Saturday Night Clearing skies.
Sunday Increasing clouds with snow showers developing in the afternoon.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2500' ' ' 2500' ' 2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 1000' 0' 0' ' ' 1000' ' 2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 1500' 500' 0' ' ' 1000' ' 1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2500' ' ' 3000' ' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
0'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
0'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
0'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'

* 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 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 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.25
LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - E 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 --- - W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 --- - W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 --- - WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Saturday Night VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 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
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 --- - WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 --- - W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 --- - W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night WSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

A ridge will slowly build Monday through early Wednesday. By Tuesday the ridge becomes more pronounced and pushes any shower activity north of our region, bringing drier weather.

The next trough and associated low pressure will approach the region late Wednesday or Wednesday night from the W-SW.

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Monday Decreasing light snow showers, mainly Cascade West slopes and Mt. Hood on Monday. Isolated light showers North Cascades as flow shifts easterly Monday night. Tuesday Fair weather with light winds and offshore flow. Warming temperatures. Wednesday Fair weather with warming temperatures, offshore flow, and increasing clouds from the south, particularly near Mt. Hood.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000'
Monday Night Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500' 2500' - 3500' *
Tuesday Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5500' *
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 6000' - 7000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
3500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
3500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
4000' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
(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 Mar 3, 2018

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