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 & Sunday
A frontal system passed through the Pacific Northwest this morning delivering a few hours of moderate rain and snow. Moderate cooling and post-frontal showers this afternoon should diminish overnight. The air mass is marginally unstable and cool enough to support a few thunderstorms with the heavier showers likely producing graupel. Forecast models indicate the area of convergence between Stevens Pass and the Mtn Loop Highway lasting through the evening. There should be some sunbreaks over the west slopes this afternoon with partly cloudy skies likely for the east slopes and Mt. Hood area.
A shortwave ridge should begin to build offshore overnight. The next frontal system offshore should flatten and shift the ridge inland on Saturday. The heaviest rain and snow should stay north of the border Saturday, but moderate rain and snow is likely for the west slopes of the Olympics and the north Cascades during the daylight hours. Warmer air should work into the region on Saturday with gradually increasing snow levels through Saturday night. There may be a period of light mixed precipitation at Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes Saturday mid-day through the afternoon with easterly flow at pass level. The frontal band should sag south Saturday night spreading light to moderate precipitation to the central Cascades. The frontal boundary looks likely to hang up north of Mt. Hood...with little precipitation expected for the Mt. Hood area or the south Washington Cascades through Saturday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics and north Washington Cascades near and west of the crest
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, slight cooling. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy. |
| Saturday |
Light rain and snow becoming moderate for the west slopes of the Olympics and north Cascades in the afternoon. Gradual warming. |
| Saturday Night |
Moderate to heavy rain and snow. |
Central and South Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, slight cooling. Heaviest snow showers likely near Stevens Pass this afternoon and evening. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon elsewhere. |
| Friday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy. |
| Saturday |
Light rain and snow developing central Cascades in the late morning and spreading south in the afternoon. Light mixed precipitation possible Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes mid-day and afternoon. Gradual warming. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate to rain and snow, heaviest central Cascades. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light rain and snow showers, slight cooling. Moderate snow showers likely near Stevens Pass this afternoon and early evening. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon elsewhere. |
| Friday Night |
Partly cloudy. |
| Saturday |
Light rain and snow developing northeast Cascades in the morning and spreading south in the afternoon. Rain and snow becoming moderate northeast Cascades in the afternoon. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate to rain and snow, heaviest northeast and central Cascades. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, slight cooling. Becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Partly cloudy. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Becoming cloudy with very light rain and snow possible Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Gradual warming. |
Issued: 2:02 PM PDT Friday, March 14, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Saturday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 6500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | Snow Level * | 7000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Sunday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 1.50 - 2.00 | 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: 2:02 PM PDT Friday, March 14, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | W 20 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Afternoon | W 20 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Mid-day | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 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 Afternoon | --- - | --- - | NW 35 - 45 | --- - | NW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - | --- - | W 25 - 35 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - | --- - | WSW 40 - 55 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | --- - | --- - | SW 45 - 60 | --- - | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | NW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | NW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Evening | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 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: 2:02 PM PDT Friday, March 14, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
The next wave along the frontal boundary should pass through the area on Sunday with gradual cooling through the day. The trough axis should pass through Sunday night for further cooling and a transition to showers Sunday night. The heaviest precipitation for Mt. Hood should hold off until Sunday night under this forecast scenario.
Showers with cool northwest flow aloft should diminish Monday afternoon through Monday night as an upper level ridge builds offshore. The ridge axis should build over the west coast on Tuesday and bring a dry day and a slight warming trend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades
Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest north and central Washington Cascades. Cooling trend.
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest west slopes. Cooling trend.
Mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers diminishing overnight.
Partly sunny.
Mt. Hood Area
Light rain and snow. Slight cooling trend.
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers overnight. Cooling trend.
Mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers diminishing overnight.
Partly sunny.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 4500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3000' - 4000' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3500' | |
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | ' - ' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 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.
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 14, 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.