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 & Saturday
The steady parade of strong Pacific frontal systems continued today across the Pacific Northwest with a broad upper trough over the NE Pacific and the jetstream directing frequent systems into our area. Low pressure has passed east of the Cascades and strong onshore flow has developed in it's wake along with showers in good orographic flow for the west slopes. A Puget Sound Convergence zone may form this afternoon and last through the evening around Stevens Pass and northward. Snow levels should not fluctuate much today or tonight.
The next frontal system should spread steady precipitation across the Olympics early Tuesday morning and into the Cascades by late morning as the associated surface low curls into Hadia Gwaii. Warm air out ahead of the front will nose into the Mt. Hood area and up to the central Cascades. Easterly flow Tuesday morning should initially insulate the passes...but a switch to westerly flow in the early afternoon may allow for a period of rain at Snoqualmie Pass before snow levels fall below 3000 feet by later Tuesday afternoon. Snow showers should continue through Tuesday night as snow levels drop further.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Monday Morning |
Moderate to heavy rain and snow, heaviest from Snoqualmie Pass and south. |
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Occasionally moderate near the Puget Sound Convergence Zone near Stevens Pass and Mountain Loop Highway. |
Tuesday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow spreading from the Olympics to the Washington Cascades during the morning. Slight warming. |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Brief warming for Cascade Passe with a switch to westerly flow in the mid-afternoon before cooling below pass level later Tuesday afternoon. |
Tuesday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Further cooling. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday Morning |
Moderate rain and snow, heaviest from Snoqualmie Pass and south. |
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
Tuesday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing during the late morning. |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Brief warming with a switch to westerly flow in the mid-afternoon central and southeast Washington Cascades before cooling again later Tuesday afternoon. |
Tuesday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Further cooling. |
Mt. Hood Area
Monday Morning |
Moderate to heavy rain and snow. Windy. |
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Winds slightly easing. |
Tuesday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow developing during the morning. Slight warming. |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Warming peaking mid-day before cooling later Tuesday afternoon. |
Tuesday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Further cooling. |
Issued: 2:39 PM PST Monday, February 17, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3500' |
Tuesday Morning | Snow Level * | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
Tuesday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 1500' |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Washington Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Leavenworth | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Stevens Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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
Saturday | Saturday | |
---|---|---|
Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0 - 2.00 |
Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
Crystal Mt | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | 2.00 - 2.50 |
White Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
Mt Hood Meadows | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
Timberline | 0 - 2.00 | 0 - 2.00 |
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: 2:39 PM PST Monday, February 17, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SSW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 40 - 50 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SSW 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | W 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 45 - 55 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 40 - 50 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SSW 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | W 30 - 40 |
Tuesday Morning | SW 35 - 50 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 45 - 55 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
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 - Monday Evening | --- - | --- - | W 40 - 50 | --- - | W 50 - 60 |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | --- - | --- - | W 35 - 45 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - | --- - | SW 65 - 75 | --- - | SW 50 - 60 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | --- - | --- - | W 50 - 60 | --- - | W 55 - 65 |
Tuesday Night | --- - | --- - | WNW 40 - 50 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | --- - |
Tuesday Night | --- - |
Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | --- - |
Tuesday Night | --- - |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 40 - 50 |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 65 - 75 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | W 50 - 60 |
Tuesday Night | WNW 40 - 50 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | --- - |
Tuesday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 50 - 60 |
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning | W 40 - 50 |
Tuesday Mid-day | SW 50 - 60 |
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening | W 55 - 65 |
Tuesday Night | W 40 - 50 |
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: 2:39 PM PST Monday, February 17, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
Yet another fast moving system should impact the area Wednesday night. This system looks more compact and cooler than previous systems with the heaviest precipitation likely from the central WA Cascades down into Mt. Hood. Good orographic showers in cool Northwest flow should follow Thursday and Thursday night for continued snow especially for the west slopes. A pattern shift looks likely to begin by Friday with less active weather (but not necessarily dry) forecast for next weekend as upper level ridging begins to build around 140 W toward the end of the work week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Breezy and cool with light to moderate snow showers, heaviest west slopes and Mt. Hood.
Increasing moderate to occasionally heavy snow overnight. Heaviest snow from central Washington Cascades down to Mt. Hood.
Moderate snow showers...occasionally heavy west slopes.
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Slight warming.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday - Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | |
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | |
Thursday Afternoon - Friday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' - ' |
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' - ' |
Thursday Afternoon - Friday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
Thursday Afternoon - Friday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
Thursday Afternoon - Friday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
* 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 17, 2014
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.