Issued: 7:09 AM PST Saturday, February 22, 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 Saturday & Monday

An upper level weather disturbance sliding down from the British Columbia coast will spread light snow over the Olympics and Washington Cascades later this morning.  Light snow should increase this afternoon and continue overnight.  Moisture with this system will mostly miss Mt. Hood. Snow showers in NW flow should continue on Sunday as a warm front approaches from the west. The warm front should traverse the area from west to east but not significantly increase snow levels as it passes through. Steady snow should increase and become light to moderate Sunday night. Arctic air originating from the Yukon should begin to slide into eastern Washington and Oregon Sunday night...with strong surface high pressure moving in east of the crest and beginning a period of cold easterly flow through the passes. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with increasing light snow Olympics and north Cascades. 

Saturday Afternoon - Night

Light to moderate snow...heaviest central Washington Cascades. 

Sunday Night

Light snow showers. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy with developing light snow northeast Cascades. 

Saturday Afternoon - Night

Light to moderate snow. 

Sunday - Sunday Evening

Scattered light snow showers Sunday morning becoming light to occasionally moderate snow in the afternoon and evening. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light snow possible in the afternoon. 

Saturday Afternoon - Night

Mostly cloudy with occasional light snow. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level 1000' ' ' ' ' 500' ' 2000'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level 2000' ' ' ' ' 1500' ' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Mid-day - Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
(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

Monday Monday
Hurricane Ridge 0 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0.75 - 1.00 0 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.00 0 - 1.00
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 0 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Paradise 0 - 0.75 0.75 - 1.00
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0 - 0.50
LT 0.10 0 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15 --- - W 5 - 15 --- - NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20 --- - W 10 - 20 --- - W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25 --- - W 15 - 25 --- - W 15 - 25
Sunday SW 5 - 15 --- - WSW 5 - 15 --- - WSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night ESE 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20

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
Saturday --- - --- - NW 35 - 45 --- - NW 30 - 40
Saturday Night --- - --- - WNW 25 - 40 --- - NW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday - Sunday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday - Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday NW 35 - 45
Saturday Night WNW 25 - 40
Sunday - Sunday Night WNW 15 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday - Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday NW 30 - 40
Saturday Night NW 25 - 35
Sunday - Sunday Night W 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

Snow showers should taper down on Monday as an upper ridge builds offshore around 130W. Moderate easterly flow should extend to crest level late Sunday night through Monday night with low snow levels especially near and east of the crest. Slight moderation should begin Tuesday as warmer air begins to work it's way over the area. The cold pool on the eastside of the Cascades should begin to erode Wednesday with further warming likely. A splitting weather system approaching the area from the west may spread some light precipitation into the area Wednesday.  Most of the energy with this system should be directed into California. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Monday

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers tapering down in the afternoon.  Breezy east winds Cascade Passes.  

Monday Night - Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy with breezy east winds Cascade Passes.  Gradual warming Olympics. 

Wednesday

Light rain or snow.  Gradual warming. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Morning Snow Level ' - ' 1000' - 2000' 3500' - 4500' *
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level ' - ' 1500' - 2500' 3500' - 4500' *
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Freezing Level ' - ' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Morning Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Freezing Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
(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 18, 2014

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