Issued: 2:39 PM PST Monday, February 17, 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 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.  

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.  

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.  

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'
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
0 - 2.00 0 - 2.00

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
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
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

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
Wednesday

Breezy and cool with light to moderate snow showers, heaviest west slopes and Mt. Hood. 

Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning

Increasing moderate to occasionally heavy snow overnight.  Heaviest snow from central Washington Cascades down to Mt. Hood. 

Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night

Moderate snow showers...occasionally heavy west slopes. 

Friday

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'
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.