Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Monday
Heavy snow is tracking on time but the frontal passage through the Washington Cascades is about 2 hours slower than previously forecast this morning....with the front just passing into the east Puget sound lowlands as of 3 pm. Easterly flow through the Cascade passes has insulated them from the warmer air, but a switch to westerly flow post-frontal should allow snow levels to temporarily bump up to nearly 4000 feet near Snoqualmie and 4500 feet near White Pass through the late afternoon hours. Intense precipitation rates, with snowfall over an inch an hour is expected this afternoon along with generally stormy conditions.
Showers and a steep cooling trend should be seen overnight as snow levels fall to 1000-2000 feet by midnight. Forecast models again indicated a Puget Sound Convergence Zone near Stevens Pass forming this evening and continuing overnight producing locally heavier accumulations. Showers should continue on Wednesday...with an upper level feature enhancing showers during the day. The convergence zone may linger through mid-day Wednesday and slide south toward Snoqualmie Pass.
Another Pacific frontal system should impact the PNW Wednesday night...with steady precipitation increasing late Wednesday night. There should be little warming with this system. However, the European forecast model is slower with this system and does not spread steady precipitation over the area until Thursday morning.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow turning to moderate showers and snow levels becoming free-air snow levels in the Cascade Passes late afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night |
Light to moderate snow showers....occasionally heavy near Stevens Pass and a potential Puget Sound Convergence Zone. |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Light to moderate snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow developing overnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday Afternoon - Evening |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate showers late afternoon. |
| Tuesday Night |
Light to moderate snow showers....occasionally heavy near Stevens Pass and a potential Puget Sound Convergence Zone. |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light rain and snow developing overnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate showers in the evening. |
| Tuesday Night |
Light to moderate snow showers. |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night |
Moderate rain and snow developing overnight. |
Issued: 3:07 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 2000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Timberline | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
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: 3:07 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 25 - 35 | --- - | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 20 - 30 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | W 25 - 35 | --- - | WSW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 40 - 50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Mid-day | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | WSW 45 - 55 | --- - | W 55 - 65 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | --- - | --- - | WNW 35 - 45 | --- - | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | --- - | --- - | WNW 45 - 55 | --- - | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 55 - 65 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Evening | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 50 - 60 |
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: 3:07 PM PST Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
The jet stream will remain over Washington state Thursday and Thursday night with Northwest flow aloft and good orographics and upslope flow producing moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers especially over the west slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels should remain quite cool with breezy to windy conditions. Shower should taper off on Friday.
A break in the very active weather pattern begins on Friday. An upper level ridge builds out toward 140 W. A weak weather system should slide over the top of the ridge and into western Washington late Friday night and Saturday. Mt. Hood may see little precipitation from this system. Snow levels should moderate on Saturday.
Extended Weather
Olympics and Washington Cascades
Moderate to occasionally heavy snow showers west slopes and breezy.
Light to moderate snow showers tapering down.
Scattered light snow showers with partial clearing.
Light to moderate rain and snow at times with a gradual warming trend.
Mt. Hood Area
Moderate snow showers and breezy.
Light to moderate snow showers tapering down.
Scattered light snow showers with partial clearing.
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow with a gradual warming trend.
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Moderate snow showers...heaviest near the crest and breezy.
Partly cloudy with scattered snow showers.
Partly cloudy.
Light rain and snow at times with a gradual warming trend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1500' - 2500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Thursday Night - Friday Mid-day | Snow Level | ' - ' | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 200' | |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1000' - 2000' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2000' - 3000' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Mid-day |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Mid-day |
Snow Level 1000' - 200' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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 18, 2014
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