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 & Friday
With easterly flow abating temperatures on Thursday are running about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than Wednesday near the Cascade Passes and the east slopes as the cold air on the east side has finally mixed out.
An upper level low continues to slowly shift into northern California and southern Oregon this afternoon. As the low passes inland on Thursday it 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. A few sunbreaks have occurred over the north Cascades with cloudy conditions elsewhere.
Friday should be 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 Friday and much colder air will begin filtering into the western part of Washington through the Cascade Passes and Fraser River Valley Friday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers mainly in the afternoon. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers. |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy Friday night. Cooling trend beginning Friday and continuing Friday night. Light upslope snow showers possible north slopes Friday night. |
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 becoming mostly cloudy Friday night. Cooling trend beginning north Cascades Friday morning and spreading south Friday afternoon and 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 afternoon and 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: 2:52 PM 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| 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 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:52 PM PST Thursday, February 27, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 | --- - | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 | --- - | ESE 20 - 30 | --- - | E 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | E 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - 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 Afternoon - 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 Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - 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: 2:52 PM PST Thursday, February 27, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
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, although it appears likely snow intensity will pick up Saturday night.
A developing low pressure system should approach from west Sunday. A 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 somewhat Sunday night 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 27, 2014
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