Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday & Friday
Warm frontal moisture riding over a flat upper level ridge centered offshore around 135W will direct moisture into the Pacific Northwest through Tuesday. The moisture axis will be aimed into Washington State such that Mt. Hood should see relatively light amounts of precipitation relative to areas further north. Areas like Crystal Mtn, Chinook Pass and Hurricane Ridge will be relatively blocked in this pattern and much less precipitation is expected over the east slopes of the Cascades in general with this pattern.
A gradual warming trend will accompany this storm system, with snow levels gradually rising Monday, holding nearly steady overnight and rising further on Tuesday. A second slug of moisture arriving Tuesday will increase precipitation rates during the day. Snoqualmie Pass should switch to rain as early as late Monday afternoon, while Stevens Pass will likely hold onto snow until Tuesday afternoon. Snow levels will likely peak near 5500 ft in the Crystal/Paradise areas Tuesday afternoon.
Alpine winds will become moderate out of the WNW today and increase further overnight through tomorrow. The jet core will be located over northern Washington/southwest British Columbia Tuesday afternoon with the strongest alpine winds expected in the northeast Cascades. After an ill-defined frontal boundary passes through Tuesday evening, showers should quickly diminish and be accompanied by a cooling trend.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Monday | Light rain and snow, heaviest west slopes of the Olympics. Gradual warming trend. |
| Monday Night | Periods of light rain and snow. Gradual warming trend. |
| Tuesday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest west slopes of the Olympics. |
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers decreasing overnight. Cooling trend after midnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Monday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest Snoqualmie Pass and Paradise. Lighter amounts expected in the Crystal/Chinook Pass area. Gradual warming trend. |
| Monday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the evening becoming light after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Moderate rain and snow, heaviest Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass and Paradise. Lighter precipitation Crystal/Chinook Pass area. Gradual warming trend. Increasing alpine winds. |
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers decreasing overnight. Cooling trend after midnight. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Monday | Light rain and snow, very light further east of the Cascade crest. Gradual warming trend. |
| Monday Night | Light rain and snow in the evening becoming intermittent light rain and snow after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Gradual warming trend. Increasing alpine winds, strongest central-east and northeast Cascades. |
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers decreasing overnight. Cooling trend after midnight. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday | Periods of light rain and snow. Gradual warming trend. |
| Monday Night | Periods of light rain and snow. |
| Tuesday | Periods of light rain and snow. Gradual warming trend. Increasing alpine winds. |
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers decreasing overnight. Cooling trend after midnight. |
Issued: 3:02 PM PDT Monday, March 26, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' | 3500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 6000' | 4500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 6500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
* 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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 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: 3:02 PM PDT Monday, March 26, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 30 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 35 - 45 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 30 - 40 | W 45 - 55 | WNW 35 - 50 | --- - | NW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 35 - 45 | WSW 45 - 55 | WNW 45 - 55 | --- - | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 | W 50 - 60 | WNW 45 - 55 | --- - | NW 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 | NW 45 - 60 | --- - | NW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | W 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 50 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Night | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Night | NW 45 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | NW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night | NW 45 - 55 |
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.
Issued: 3:02 PM PDT Monday, March 26, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
The upper level ridge will briefly re-establish it's position offshore Tuesday night into Wednesday. Precipitation over the region on Wednesday should be minimal but NW flow aloft will continue to deliver ample cloud cover into the region. A developing but weak surface low should once again flatten the upper level ridge Wednesday night, perhaps bringing light rain and snow into the Olympics and north Cascades by early Thursday morning. This weak frontal system may pass through the Cascades on Thursday, but there is poor forecast confidence in the Thursday/Friday time frame and the extended forecast reflects the most recent GFS run.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
* 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 26, 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.