Issued: 7:12 AM PDT Saturday, March 22, 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 Saturday & Thursday

After a mostly clear and cold start to the weekend, a weak frontal system over Vancouver Island should advance south and spread increasing clouds over the north and central Washington Cascades today.  The south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area should stay mostly clear today.  Temperatures should be a bit higher than Friday, especially in the south where more sunshine is expected.  As the front passes into British Columbia today, light rain and snow should affect mostly the Olympics and north Cascades.  There may be some light and isolated showers left over Saturday night for the west slopes.  

An upper level ridge should build offshore on Sunday with mostly sunny skies over the area except for periods of high clouds passing over the region.  Freezing levels should on Sunday afternoon should be fairly similar to Saturday.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics and North Cascades
Saturday - Saturday Evening

Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing in the early afternoon. 

Saturday Night

Scattered light rain and snow showers. 

Central and South Washington Cascades
Saturday - Saturday Evening

Mostly sunny becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the central Cascades in the afternoon. 

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers for the west slopes. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday

Mostly sunny. 

Saturday Night

Mostly clear. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' ' ' ' ' 3500' ' 5000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2000' ' ' ' ' 1500' ' 2500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' ' ' ' ' 2500' ' 4000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level 5000' ' ' ' ' 5000' ' 7000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10 --- - E 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10 --- - NW 0 - 10 --- - NW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning W 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning E 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning E 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 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
Saturday Morning --- - --- - NW 15 - 25 --- - NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon --- - --- - NW 25 - 35 --- - NW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

An upper level low should approach the Pacific Northwest on Monday and shift the upper level ridge into inland Washington. Easterly flow through the passes and perhaps to crest level should increase on Monday in response to the approaching low pressure system.  Light warm frontal precipitation may brush the north Cascades but an otherwise dry day is expected with warmer temperatures away from the easterly flow.  

The first frontal band to extend from the upper level low should pass through Monday night and bring light rain and snow at moderate freezing levels.  A secondary wave rotating around the upper low should affect the area Tuesday afternoon or evening...bringing a more substantial shot of precipitation.  A broad upper trough should position itself just offshore Tuesday night and Wednesday with falling snow snow levels and continued showers. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Monday

Partly to mostly sunny with increasing easterly flow near the Cascades Passes.  Warmer away from the passes along the west slopes. 

Monday Night - Tuesday Morning

Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow developing overnight and turning to light showers Tuesday morning.  

Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Evening

Moderate rain and snow. 

Tuesday Night - Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.  Cooling trend beginning Tuesday night. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Freezing Level ' - ' 5000' - 7000' 7000' - 9000' *
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level ' - ' 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
' - '
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
' - '
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
5000' - 7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Freezing Level
7000' - 9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night - Tuesday Snow Level
4500' - 6000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 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.

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.