Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Monday
A deep upper trough will migrate from the southern Oregon/northern California coast inland on Friday with a cool and slightly unstable air mass over our region. A low to mid-level cloudy deck is banked up against the East slopes of the Cascades this morning affecting locations like Mission Ridge.
For today's weather expect an afternoon cloud buildup and light showers, with a higher likelihood of showers for Mt. Hood and the SW Cascades including Crystal/Mt. Rainier/Chinook Pass. There is an outside chance for a thunderstorm in the south Cascades. Freezing levels will climb to 5000 feet or more feet today, but snow levels will quickly plummet during any shower activity. Any shower activity will wane in the evening excluding Mt. Hood, where showers will linger longer.
Onshore flow on Saturday will increase low level moisture and clouds along the Olympics and West Slopes of the Cascades as well as lower snow/freezing levels. This should also increase cloud cover earlier in the day for the West Slopes, Olympics and Mt. Hood versus Friday, with generally drier and clearer conditions expected along the East Slopes of the Cascades. Showers will quickly diminish Saturday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Partly to mostly clear becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers. |
| Friday Night | Slight chance of an evening shower. Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Saturday | Mostly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers. |
| Saturday Night | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | North Cascades: Mostly clear becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers. Central and South Cascades: Partly to mostly clear becoming mostly cloudy with scattered afternoon showers, especially Southwest Cascades. |
| Friday Night | Slight chance of an evening shower. Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Saturday | Mostly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers. |
| Saturday Night | Partly to mostly cloudy. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Northeast and central-east Cascades: Partly to mostly clear becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers near the Cascade crest. Southeast Cascades: Partly to mostly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy with scattered showers in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Slight chance of an evening shower near the Cascade crest. Partly cloudy. |
| Saturday | Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers near the Cascade crest. |
| Saturday Night | Partly to mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Cloudy with scattered showers. |
| Friday Night | Slight chance of an evening shower. Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Saturday | Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, increasing in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, decreasing after midnight. |
Issued: 9:10 AM PDT Friday, March 16, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 3500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 2000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 2000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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 | 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 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 9:10 AM PDT Friday, March 16, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 | N 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | --- - | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 | N 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | --- - | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 | N 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 5 - 15 | NE 0 - 10 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | NE 10 - 20 | --- - | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 | N 0 - 10 | N 5 - 15 | --- - | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday | N 5 - 15 | N 5 - 15 | NW 10 - 20 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | N 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday | N 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | N 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Saturday | N 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | N 5 - 15 |
| Saturday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | NW 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 16, 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.
Updated 9 AM: Corrected Synopsis