Issued: 8:49 AM PST Friday, February 7, 2014
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Tuesday

The storm track should continue to stay mainly focused on Oregon and northern California through the short term.  A cold upper level low centered over Vancouver Island is part of an elongated E-W longwave trough extending into the northern US plains that continues to keep systems to the south.  Another developing weather system offshore should pass through Oregon Friday night delivering a moderate shot of snow to Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascade and light amounts further north.   Pass level and 5000 ft winds are expected to be lighter than they have been during the past week.  

The upper low should eject eastward on Saturday...keeping light snow showers in the forecast for all zones through Saturday night. 

Temperatures are expected to slowly moderate through the weekend as the arctic air mass over the area slowly modifies.  

Weather Forecast

Mt. Hood Area
Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day

Partly sunny with occasional flurries. 

Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning

Becoming cloudy with light to moderate snow developing in the late afternoon or early evening.  

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Friday

Partly sunny with occasional flurries this morning.  

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Increasing clouds with light to moderate snow developing Friday evening south Washington Cascades, with light snow spreading north overnight. 

Olympics and north Washington Cascades
Friday

Partly cloudy becoming mostly sunny this afternoon.  

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Becoming mostly cloudy overnight.  Light snow of flurries possible, mainly northeast Cascades. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level * 0' ' ' ' ' 0' ' 0'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday - Saturday Mid-day Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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

Tuesday Tuesday
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 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.50
0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday - Morning NW 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10 --- - SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10 --- - SSE 5 - 15 --- - SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day E 0 - 10 --- - ESE 15 - 25 --- - SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday - Morning NW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday - Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday - Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday - Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday - Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday - Morning NW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday - Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday - Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day ESE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday - Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday - Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night SW 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
Friday Morning --- - --- - WNW 10 - 20 --- - W 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening --- - --- - WSW 15 - 25 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- - --- - WSW 10 - 20 --- - W 40 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night W 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning --- -
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day W 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night W 35 - 45

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

On Sunday, very different model forecast solutions exist...with a completely dry day advertised by some forecast models and a weak weather system and light to moderate snow indicated by others.  

There is slightly higher forecast confidence that a weak warm front will approach the area on Sunday night and Monday with light to moderate rain and snow overspreading the area and with snow levels rising further. The weather pattern looks much more active next week with weather systems arriving in westerly flow every 24 to 48 hours at moderate snow levels. The first system in this more consolidated flow arriving Tuesday looks stronger than the ones seen late this week and over the weekend.     

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Sunday - Sunday Evening

Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers.  Slightly warmer. 

Sunday Night - Monday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow developing Olympics overnight and spreading inland Monday. Lighter precipitation east slopes. Gradual warming continues.  

Tuesday

Moderate rain and snow with increasing winds.  Lighter precipitation east slopes. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Snow Level ' - ' 1500' - 2500' 3000' - 4000' *
Sunday Night Snow Level ' - ' 2000' - 3000' 3500' - 4500' *
Monday Snow Level ' - ' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 Feb 6, 2014

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