Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Wednesday
An upper level ridge of high pressure has shifted into the intermountain west this morning and surface high pressure over eastern Washington has weakened considerably since yesterday. Easterly winds through the passes have hung on overnight through this morning but should quickly weaken later this morning as warmer air mixes over the Cascade Passes and east slopes. Already temperatures early Thursday morning are running about 5 or more degrees warmer than Wednesday morning near the Passes and the east slopes.
An upper level low will slowly shift into northern California and southern Oregon on Thursday. As the low passes inland on Thursday and has begun to rotate a more consolidated band of E-W oriented showers mainly into the Mt. Hood region and the south Washington Cascades. Very light and showers may extend north later in the afternoon to the Olympics and north Cascades. Sunbreaks should be most likely over the north Cascades, especially through mid-day before clouds rotate up from the upper low.
Friday should a relatively quiet day with a few isolated showers and a slow cooling trend that should show up first over the north Cascades and spread south and west. Shower activity should be minimal Friday night except for some light upslope snow showers along the east slopes. Easterly gradients should increase through the Cascade passes and much colder air will begin filtering into the western part of Washington through the Cascade Passes and Fraser River Valley.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers south Cascades. Partly cloudy north and central Cascades becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. Milder near the Cascade Passes. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Cooling trend beginning north Cascades Friday morning and spreading south Friday afternoon and night. |
Olympics
| Thursday |
Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Cooling trend beginning Friday and continuing Friday night. Light upslope snow showers possible north slopes Friday night. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers south Cascades. Partly cloudy north and central Cascades becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. Milder. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Partly cloudy with isolated showers Friday, becoming mostly cloudy with light scattered snow showers Friday night. Cooling trend beginning northeast Cascades Friday morning and spreading south Friday afternoon and night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday |
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Cooling trend beginning Friday afternoon and continuing overnight. |
Issued: 7:33 AM PST Thursday, February 27, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 6500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 5500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | Snow Level | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level * | 1000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
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: 7:33 AM PST Thursday, February 27, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | E 10 - 20 | --- - | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 | --- - | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 | --- - | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | E 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | E 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | E 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | --- - | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | WNW 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.
Issued: 7:33 AM PST Thursday, February 27, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
The details continue to be murky for the weekend but NW flow aloft, weak surface low pressure off the Washington Coast and an upper level low over central BC/AB should all help to draw much colder air into the PNW over the weekend as well as provide enough lift and moisture to keep snow showers in the forecast. There is much disagreement between forecast models on how heavy the snow shower activity Saturday through Saturday night.
A developing low pressure system should approach from west Sunday. Warm frontal system may start to spread steady precipitation over much of the area by Sunday afternoon. Again there is much uncertainty to how heavy precipitation will be and how quickly snow levels will rise Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. Depending on the track of the low Sunday night...snow levels should moderate into Monday with a period of active weather continuing into early next week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest west slopes of the Washington Cascades. Moderate easterly flow developing Saturday Cascade Passes.
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming moderate Sunday evening and overnight. Gradual warming trend away from the Cascade Passes and east slopes.
Light to moderate rain and snow. Milder.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | ' - ' | 0' - 1000' | 1000' - 2000' | * |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1500' - 2500' | 3000' - 4000' | * |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3000' - 5000' | 4500' - 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' - ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' - ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6000' |
* 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 26, 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.