Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Thursday
The radar is lit up with precipitation echoes thanks to a developing frontal wave off the Washington coast. The frontal passage associated with this system is still forecast to cross the Cascades in the evening as the surface low lifts into Vancouver Island overnight. Warming away from the Passes have bumped temperatures to near freezing at Hurricane Ridge and Paradise while slow but steady moderation has taken place in the Cascade Passes with upper stations warming more quickly. Before the frontal passage this evening...a period of mixed precipitation may be seen in the Passes, particularly freezing rain at Snoqualmie Pass. Behind the front milder Pacific air should move in with more middling snow levels. As the low lifts and stalls near Vancouver Island tonight...moderate to heavy showers should be directed from the Stevens Pass through Mt. Baker area.
A weak frontal wave should move into the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood on Monday bringing another round of moderate precipitation mainly for those areas in the afternoon. Steady precipitation should transition to showers Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow transitioning to showers in the evening. Gradual warming. Potential period of mixed precipitation Cascade Passes in the evening. Increasing winds. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, except moderate to heavy from Stevens Pass to Mt. Baker. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow. |
| Monday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, potentially heavy from Stevens Pass to Mt. Baker. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow transitioning to showers in the evening. Gradual warming. Potential period of mixed precipitation near Cascade Passes in the evening. Increasing winds. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Gradual warming continues. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow becoming occasionally moderate Snoqualmie Pass and southeast Washington Cascades. |
| Monday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Moderate to heavy rain and snow transitioning to showers in the evening. Gradual warming. Increasing winds. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Mid-day |
Moderate to rain and snow showers becoming moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow Monday morning. |
| Monday Afternoon - Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 2:47 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 5500' |
| Sunday Evening - Monday | Snow Level | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Monday |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
* 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
| Thursday | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 0 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 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: 2:47 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 35 - 50 |
| Monday | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 15 - 30 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Monday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Monday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Monday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Monday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - | --- - | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | WSW 50 - 65 |
| Monday | --- - | --- - | W 35 - 45 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | --- - | --- - | W 40 - 50 | --- - | W 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Monday | W 35 - 45 |
| Monday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | WSW 50 - 65 |
| Monday | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | W 35 - 45 |
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: 2:47 PM PST Sunday, March 2, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The active pattern will continue through the long term with the upper level low that had been over British Colubmia for the last few days pushing eastward and strong westerly flow driving systems into the Pacific Northwest. Tuesday should be showery with the potential for a convergence zone along with strong NW flow aloft and gradual warming. A stronger frontal system looks to impact the area on Wednesday and Wednesday night...with stormy conditions and significant warming before a return to more moderate snow levels and showers on Thursday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Light to moderate rain and snow shower, potentially heaviest central Cascades. Gradual warming.
Light rain and snow showers.
Light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades Wednesday morning and spreading south. Becoming stormy with warming throughout the day.
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow.
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Slightly cooler.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 4000' - 5000' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | ' - ' | 6000' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
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 Mar 2, 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.