Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Wednesday
This isn't an April Fools' Day joke; a nice round of cold snow is in the forecast for most areas Sunday through Monday!
A deep upper low off the central British Columbia coast will dig south toward our region today as a 120 kt jet becomes aimed at Washington State. This jet will deliver a fast moving frontal system with light to moderate snowfall developing along the west slopes of the Cascades that will transition to showers in the afternoon from north to south across the area. A Puget Convergence Zone will 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 beginning later today and especially tonight; snow levels should barely change or even lower this afternoon despite the calendar flipping into April. Mt. Hood will see a slower onset of precipitation and cooling relative to areas further north.
Snow showers will continue later Sunday night, with more moderate snow showers also developing in the southwest Cascades affecting areas like Paradise and Crystal Mt as the flow aloft veers to NW. Snow showers should begin to wind down Monday, but look for additional light accumulations along the west slopes of the Cascades, especially in the morning. Onshore flow at the surface and NW flow aloft should keep cloudy conditions along the Olympics, Mt. Hood and west slopes of the Cascades through Monday afternoon with increasing sunbreaks further east of the Cascade crest. Showers will decrease further Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Sunday | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate showers. Strong cooling trend. |
| Sunday Night | Light snow showers. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers decreasing overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Sunday | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Heaviest showers in developing convergence zone central Cascades near Stevens Pass in the afternoon. Slight cooling trend. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers, heaviest snow in convergence zone central Cascades in the evening near Snoqualmie Pass shifting to SW Cascades near Mt. Rainier after midnight. Strong cooling trend. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers decreasing overnight except continuing in the Mt. Baker area. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday | Light snow showers, occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Slight cooling trend. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light snow showers. Showers occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest. Strong cooling trend. |
| Monday | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers in the morning becoming partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night | Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers ending. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday | Light snow, becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night | Light to moderate snow showers. Strong cooling trend. Windy. |
| Monday | Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. A few sunbreaks possible.Winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers decreasing overnight. |
Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, April 1, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 500' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Monday 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
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: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, April 1, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 35 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 50 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 40 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 30 | NW 25 - 35 | --- - | NW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 5 - 15 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | NW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Night | WNW 25 - 40 |
| Monday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | NW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | NW 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: 2:51 PM PDT Sunday, April 1, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Tuesday should be relatively dry, at least compared to about every other day this week. Warm frontal moisture from a developing Pacific frontal system outside of 140W will spread clouds into the region with cloud bases lowering during the day. Light rain and snow may develop over the Olympics during the daylight hours.
Heavier precipitation should move into the Washington Cascades Tuesday night continuing a slow warming trend. The trailing cold front will approach the Washington Coast on Wednesday, leaving us in the warm sector with increasing rain and snow over the northern half of the forecast area. The cold front should more or less stall over the region Wednesday night with another low pressure system developing along the same frontal boundary and lifting northeastward over the area. This will bring a renewed round of precipitation, likely heavier, milder and affecting all areas this time around.
All in all a very active and mild pattern is expected from Wednesday into at least the first half of next weekend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4500' - 5500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 6500' - 7500' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
* 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 Apr 1, 2018
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