Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Thursday
A ridge of high pressure located near 130 W sits off the coast of California on Wednesday afternoon. A moderate jetstream passes over the ridge through southern British Columbia on NW flow aloft and with it, some clouds (moisture) continues to circulate into our region. With the west slopes of the Cascades are seeing some very light showers, but the story is mostly cloudy skies banked against the west slopes of the Cascades with mostly sunny skies on the east slopes. With strong sunshine and light winds, temperatures have been pushing into the 30's and 40's at mid-elevations and near Mt. Hood where sunshine has been present, temperatures are pushing into the 40's above 6,000 ft.
A mostly cloudy day can be expected for the west slopes of the Cascades from the central Cascades northward, with more sunshine elsewhere.
Tonight and Thursday, periods of very light rain and snow will develop in the north and central parts of the Cascades ahead of a weak low pressure system approaching the central British Columbia Coastline on Thursday. Thursday night, the associated frontal system drops SE, continuing the light precipitation in the same areas.
Areas south of Snoqualmie Pass, east of the Cascade Crest, and the Olympics should all see generally fair weather with scattered clouds, high clouds, or clear skies Wednesday night through Thursday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Wednesday | Mid-level clouds obscuring the sun. Clearing possible by evening. |
| Wednesday Night | Increasing clouds. |
| Thursday | Cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow in the morning. Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night | Partly clear. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered very light rain and snow showers from Snoqualmie Pass northward. |
| Wednesday Night | Very light rain developing at times north and central parts. Central part, decreasing clouds after midnight. Mostly clear south.Mostly cloudy north, decreasing clouds central, and mostly clear south. |
| Thursday | Partly cloudy north, clearing central, clear south. |
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy north of Snoqualmie Pass and mostly clear to the south. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy in the north, mostly sunny with some high clouds in the central and south parts. |
| Wednesday Night | Mostly cloudy north with a chance of very light rain, decreasing clouds central, and mostly clear south. |
| Thursday | Partly cloudy north, clearing central, clear south. |
| Thursday Night | Partly cloudy north of Snoqualmie Pass and mostly clear to the south. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Filtered sunshine. |
| Wednesday Night | Mostly clear. |
| Thursday | Filtered sunshine. |
| Thursday Night | Clear with increasing clouds by morning. |
Issued: 4:40 PM PDT Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 6000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 4500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 7000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| 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 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
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: 4:40 PM PDT Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 15 - 25 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 50 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 45 - 65 | --- - | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 20 - 30 | NW 40 - 60 | --- - | NW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Morning | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | --- - | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 35 - 50 | --- - | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 | W 40 - 60 | W 40 - 60 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 60 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 45 - 65 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
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: 4:40 PM PDT Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
Models agree that a weak frontal passage is expected Friday evening with limited moisture out ahead of it. The frontal zone may not push south, so moisture is not likely to reach Oregon.
Beyond that, the models diverge.
Some models have another weak system arriving Saturday afternoon and keeping a cool, unstable NW flow kicking off showers through Sunday, but in other solutions the weekend is largely dry with divergent flow.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Snow Level | ' - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | ' - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' | |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | ' - ' | ' - ' | ' - ' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
* 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 28, 2018
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