Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Saturday
A Pacific frontal system aimed at the central British Columbia coast today should bring mostly cloudy skies and periods of very light rain and snow to the north Cascades and Olympics with decreasing cloud cover further south over the southern Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area. After a cool start Tuesday morning, temperatures have warmed up to near or above freezing at many mountain stations.
Snow levels should plateau overnight and through Wednesday morning as the frontal band slowly sags south toward the US border. The front is forecast to cross the Cascades in the early afternoon Wednesday, bringing a rapid increase in precipitation intensity and winds during the day and a sharp cooling trend by later in the afternoon. Post frontal showers in cool northwesterly flow should bring light moderate snow showers to the west slopes. Mesoscale forecast models indicate one or more convergence zones in the central Cascades near Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes that could locally produce higher snowfall totals through early Thursday morning.
Sadly, the newest forecast guidance from this morning shows less water (and snowfall) during and behind the front through Thursday morning. The Day 2 QPF forecast has been adjusted down to reflect this trend.
Weather Forecast
Olympics and North Cascades
| Tuesday |
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow. Gradual warming. |
| Tuesday Night |
Light rain and snow developing after midnight. |
| Wednesday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon with a sharp cooling trend. Becoming windy. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to moderate snow showers. |
Central and South Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Tuesday |
Partly sunny south Cascades and partly to mostly cloudy central Cascades. Gradual warming. |
| Tuesday Night |
Becoming mostly cloudy. Light rain and snow developing late Tuesday night. |
| Wednesday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow spreading south during the morning, clouds lowering. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening |
Moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers in the afternoon with a sharp cooling trend. Showers possibly heavy near a convergence zone. Becoming windy. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to moderate snow showers, heaviest near a convergence zone. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday |
Partly sunny southeast Cascades and mostly cloudy northeast Cascades. Gradual warming. |
| Tuesday Night |
Becoming mostly cloudy with light rain and snow developing late tonight northeast Cascades. |
| Wednesday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow near the crest spreading south. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light showers in the afternoon with a sharp cooling trend. Showers heaviest near the crest and a convergence zone. Becoming windy. |
| Wednesday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Tuesday |
Partly sunny with some high clouds. Gradual warming. |
| Tuesday Night |
Partly cloudy. |
| Wednesday Morning |
Becoming mostly cloudy with light rain and snow possible late morning. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers in the late afternoon. Sharp cooling trend. Becoming windy. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. |
Issued: 2:17 PM PDT Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day | Snow Level | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3500' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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
| Saturday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
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: 2:17 PM PDT Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 10 - 20 | --- - | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - | --- - | NW 10 - 20 | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - | --- - | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - | --- - | W 40 - 60 | --- - | W 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Night | --- - | --- - | NW 35 - 45 | --- - | NW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 40 - 60 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 35 - 50 |
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: 2:17 PM PDT Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
Cool northwest flow should continue on Thursday with light to moderate snow showers tapering off Thursday night. An embedded upper level disturbance in the NW flow Thursday may temporarily enhance shower activity during the day, mainly for the west slopes. An upper level ridge forecast of varying strengths, should build over the area Friday and Friday night. Some forecast models have clouds and dribs and drabs of light rain and snow for the north Cascades and Olympics Friday sneaking under the weak ridge. A weather system is forecast to push the ridge to the east on Friday night and come down from the northwest and over the are sometime on Saturday. Snow levels should moderate gradually beginning Friday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood area
Light to moderate snow showers. Cool.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers diminishing overnight.
Partly cloudy and fair.
Light to moderate rain and snow developing Olympics and Cascades in the morning and spreading south during the day.
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Mostly cloudy with light snow showers mainly near the crest. Cool.
Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers diminishing overnight.
Partly cloudy and fair.
Light to moderate rain and snow developing in the morning and spreading south during the day.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 3000' | |
| Friday - Friday Night | Freezing Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2500' - 3500' | 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' - ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 3000' |
| Friday - Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday |
Snow 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 18, 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.