Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Tuesday
A few showers should linger through this morning as a shortwave upper level ridge offshore crosses inland today. NWAC stations along the west slopes generally picked up a 6-12" of heavy wet snow above about 5000 feet yesterday and last night. A general drying and clearing trend is forecast in the afternoon and evening hours although high clouds from the next incoming system may offer more in the way of filtered sunshine today. Fair weather tonight should last through Saturday morning as a fast moving Pacific frontal system approaches the area from the west. Clouds should lower during the day Saturday with light rain and snow developing in the morning for the north Cascades and Olympics and spreading southward during the afternoon. Mt. Hood should be spared the longest...with heavier rain and snow not beginning until Saturday night.
Strong southwest flow should inject warm air over both sides of the Cascades Saturday afternoon and evening and come with the heaviest precipitation. Luckily, this system does not linger over the PNW...and the front should pass south into Oregon by late Saturday night changing steady rain and snow to showers.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday afternoon with increasing high clouds overnight. |
| Saturday Morning |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing north Cascades and Olympics. Mild. Winds increasing. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Clouds lowering with moderate to heavy rain and snow in the north Cascades and Olympics spreading south into the central and south Washington Cascades in the afternoon. Warm and windy. |
| Saturday Night |
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday afternoon with increasing high clouds overnight. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing. Mild. Winds increasing. |
| Saturday Night |
Clouds lowering with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Warm and windy. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers near the crest. |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Becoming mostly sunny Friday afternoon with increasing high clouds overnight. |
| Saturday Morning |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing north Cascades. Mild. Winds increasing. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Clouds lowering with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow in the northeast Cascades spreading south into the central and southeast Washington Cascades in the afternoon. Warm and windy. |
| Saturday Night |
Moderate rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 7:21 AM PST Friday, March 7, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 6000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Freezing Level * | 7000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 8000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level * | 7000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 7500' | ' | 9000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 5500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
* 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
| Tuesday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
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: 7:21 AM PST Friday, March 7, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - | --- - | NW 30 - 40 | --- - | NW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | --- - | --- - | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - | --- - | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | --- - | --- - | SW 50 - 70 | --- - | SW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | --- - | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | SW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Mid-day - Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | SW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
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: 7:21 AM PST Friday, March 7, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
Rain and snow showers should continue on Sunday with the heaviest showers Sunday morning along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood with moderate westerly flow. Snow levels should gradually drop...falling to 4-5000 feet by Sunday afternoon. Further cooling should follow Sunday night and Monday as an upper level trough moves over the area. The trough axis should swing through on Monday...but showers should remain in the light to moderate range. Upper level ridging building offshore on Monday night should move over the PNW coastline on Tuesday. This should allow a bump in freezing levels and being a transition to sunnier and warmer weather.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers.
Mostly cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend.
Partly to mostly sunny.
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, mainly near the crest. Cooling trend.
Mostly sunny.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2500' - 3500' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | ' - ' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
* 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 6, 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.