Issued: 7:12 AM PDT Monday, March 17, 2014
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Monday & Sunday

A frontal system passed through the Pacific Northwest Sunday and Sunday night bringing a cooling trend and a switch from rain to snow for many locations that experienced rain on Sunday.  24 hr snowfall totals this morning were generally in the 6-12" range along the west slopes and Mt. Hood with little snow away from the Cascade crest.  

This cooling trend has come with moderate northwest winds, especially near crest level. Cool temperatures and breezy northwest winds should continue today as well as generally light snow showers.  Showers should be moderate near an area of convergence between Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes through mid-day. Some sunbreaks are likely this afternoon as an upper level ridge builds offshore and shower coverage wanes this evening and overnight.  

A warm frontal system should begin to approach the PNW late Monday night.  Light precipitation is likely on Tuesday, but there is some disagreement on how far south into Washington the light precipitation will spread during the daylight hours on Tuesday.  A gradual warming trend should take place during the day.  The frontal boundary should sag south Tuesday night for a general lowering of clouds and increase in precipitation over the north/central Washington Cascades and Olympics.   

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Monday Morning

Light snow showers, occasionally moderate near a convergence zone around Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes. 

Monday Afternoon

Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. 

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds overnight and light snow possible north Cascades and Olympics after midnight.  

Tuesday

Light to moderate rain and snow north Cascades and Olympics with periods of light rain and snow central and south Washington Cascades. Gradual warming trend.  

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday Morning

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers near the Cascade crest.  

Monday Afternoon

Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers. 

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds late tonight and light snow possible northeast Cascades after midnight.  

Tuesday

Light rain and snow northeast Cascades with periods of light rain and snow central and south Washington Cascades. Gradual warming trend.  

Mt. Hood Area
Monday Morning

Light snow showers and windy. 

Monday Afternoon

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers and continued windy conditions. 

Monday Night

Partly cloudy with increasing high clouds late Monday night.  

Tuesday - Tuesday Evening

Mostly cloudy with a gradual warming trend.  

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Snow Level 2000' ' ' ' ' 2000' ' 2500'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level 3000' ' ' ' ' 1500' ' 2000'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level 3500' ' ' ' ' 2500' ' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Snow Level
'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Mid-day Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'

* 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 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10
LT 0.25 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Morning NW 15 - 25 --- - WNW 15 - 30 --- - NW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon NW 5 - 15 --- - WNW 10 - 20 --- - NW 15 - 25
Monday Night NW 5 - 15 --- - NW 5 - 15 --- - WNW 10 - 20
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Morning NW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning WNW 15 - 30
Monday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning NW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning WNW 15 - 30
Monday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20
Tuesday - Tuesday Evening W 0 - 10
Tuesday Night W 0 - 10

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
Monday Morning --- - --- - NW 35 - 45 --- - NW 45 - 55
Monday Afternoon --- - --- - NW 30 - 40 --- - NW 40 - 50
Monday Night --- - --- - NW 25 - 35 --- - NW 25 - 35
Tuesday --- - --- - NW 20 - 30 --- - NW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 35 - 45
Monday Afternoon NW 30 - 40
Monday Night NW 25 - 35
Tuesday NW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Morning NW 45 - 55
Monday Afternoon NW 40 - 50
Monday Night NW 25 - 35
Tuesday NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

The front should come through the area Wednesday with a sharp cooling trend and a burst of moderate to occasionally heavy precipitation for the west slopes and Mt. Hood area.  This system looks fast moving but has decent upper level support so it could deliver a healthy but quick shot of snow at lowering snow levels before transitioning to showers Wednesday afternoon.  A cool upper trough combined with NW flow aloft should continue light to moderate showers at low snow levels Wednesday night and Thursday.  Weak upper level ridging that builds offshore Thursday night should shift inland Friday and bring about a slow warming and drying trend. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Wednesday

Moderate rain and snow, heaviest near for the west slopes, becoming moderate rain and snow showers in the afternoon.  Strong cooling trend and breezy. 

Wednesday Night - Thursday Evening

Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest for the west slopes, cool. 

Friday

Partly sunny.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Morning Snow Level ' - ' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Night Snow Level ' - ' 1000' - 2000' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
' - '
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Night Snow Level
' - '
Friday Freezing Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Friday Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Friday Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'

* 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

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