Issued: 7:53 AM PDT Saturday, March 31, 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 & Thursday

A weak upper level trough will pass through the area today. Periods of high clouds should give way to increasing sunshine by late afternoon. Freezing levels will be on the rise, especially for the central Washington Cascades and south to Mt. Hood. 

A deep upper low of the Alaska/BC coast will dig south overnight through Sunday as a 110 kt jet become aimed into Washington State.  A developing and fast moving frontal system will reach the Olympics and northwest Cascade early Sunday morning, with light snow spreading southward during the morning hours. This system will bring a quick increase in generally light snowfall through mid-day along the west slopes of the Cascades. A Puget Convergence Zone looks likely to form in the afternoon hours near Stevens Pass and shift more toward Snoqualmie Pass in the evening. Much colder air will be ushered into the region, with snow levels barely changing or even lowering during the day on Sunday despite the calendar flipping into April. Mt. Hood will see a slower onset of precipitatoin and cooling relative to areas further north. 

Snow showers should ease somewhat but still continue Sunday night as the flow veers to NW.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds becoming mostly sunny late in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Light snow developing late tonight.
Sunday Light snow becoming showers in the afternoon. Colder.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds becoming mostly sunny late in the afternoon. Milder central and south Cascades.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Light snow developing Mt. Baker area late tonight.
Sunday Light snow spreading southward in the morning, becoming light to occasionally moderate in the afternoon. Heaviest snow in developing convergence zone central Cascades in the afternoon. Colder.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds becoming mostly sunny late in the afternoon. Milder central-east and southeast Cascades.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy late tonight.
Sunday Light snow spreading southward in the morning. Snowfall becoming occasionally moderate near developing convergence zone central Cascades in the afternoon. Colder.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds becoming mostly sunny late in the afternoon. Mild.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy.
Sunday Becoming cloudy with light snow developing mid-day.

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' 2500' 2000' ' ' 3000' ' 5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level 5500' 5000' 5000' ' ' 6000' ' 7000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level 4000' 3500' 3000' ' ' 4000' ' 5000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' ' ' 2500' ' 4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 2500' 2500' ' ' 2500' ' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'

* 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 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 - 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.75 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0.75 - 1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10 0 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20 WNW 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 --- - WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 --- - W 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - W 15 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 SW 35 - 45 --- - W 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45 --- - WSW 45 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night NW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35 - 45
Sunday Night WNW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 30
Sunday Morning W 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 45 - 55
Sunday Night WSW 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.

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

Previous forecast from Mar 30, 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.