Issued: 7:01 AM PST Saturday, March 10, 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 & Wednesday

A fine weekend is in store for the Pacific Northwest with a fair helping of sunshine and rising freezing levels. Upper level ridging over eastern Washington/Oregon will slowly slide east today. A pair of weak upper level shortwaves embedded in SW flow aloft will traverse across Mt. Hood and the south Cascades late this afternoon and tonight. This may bring a stray shower, but most likely just result in an increase in high clouds over the area.

Upper level ridging will further amplify as it retrogrades over the western US Sunday. This will allow freezing levels to climb further. Offshore flow may create some local temperature inversions in the Cascades Passes today and tomorrow but are not expected to have a large impact. 

Dry and mild weather will continue Sunday night, but offshore flow will increase as a weak N-S oriented frontal boundary approaches 130W. 

 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Mostly sunny.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with high clouds.
Sunday Mostly sunny, warmer.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Mostly sunny.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds. Slight chance of a shower south Cascades overnight.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny. Warmer.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Mostly sunny with some high clouds south Cascades in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds. Slight chance of a shower southeast Cascades overnight.
Sunday Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny. Warmer.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Mostly sunny, then partly sunny with high clouds in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy. Slight chance of showers overnight.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny. Warmer.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Freezing Level * 3000' 1500' 500' ' ' 2000' ' 3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level * 6000' 5500' 5000' ' ' 5000' ' 6500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level * 6000' 5000' 1000' ' ' 3000' ' 4500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level * 6000' 5000' 1000' ' ' 3000' ' 4500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level * 7000' 6500' 6000' ' ' 6500' ' 8000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000'
(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 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 --- - SE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 --- - ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15 --- - ESE 10 - 20
Sunday SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ESE 5 - 15 --- - ESE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 0 - 10
Sunday SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Saturday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday E 0 - 10
Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 5 - 15
Sunday ESE 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night ESE 10 - 20
Sunday ESE 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 0 - 10
Sunday SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Saturday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday E 0 - 10
Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 5 - 15
Sunday ESE 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Saturday Night ESE 10 - 20
Sunday ESE 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 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
Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 --- - S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 --- - S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Sunday S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday S 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday S 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday S 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night S 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.

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

Previous forecast from Mar 9, 2018

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