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
Radar echoes from a late March storm have begun to spread over the Pacific Northwest this morning. A north-south oriented frontal system extending from a deep upper low well offshore at 140W/48N should pass through the area today, with the occluded front passing through the Cascades in the early afternoon. Early on with this system the best orographics and lift should be focused on volcanoes and southern slopes, especially over the Mt. Hood area where heavy rain and snow is expected.
Cool easterly flow will initially keep wet snow going at Snoqualmie through late morning, but a gradual rise in snow levels should produce a switch to rain...with snow levels peaking across the area in the afternoon.
Showers in SW flow should follow tonight through Saturday morning along with a slight drop in snow levels. A shortwave rotating around the slowly approaching upper level low should reinvigorate showers on Saturday...with the heaviest shower activity expected in the Mt. Baker area. An increasingly cold and unstable air mass aloft on Saturday may allow for thunderstorms as well, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Light to moderate showers should continue Saturday night with a cooling trend.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day |
Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest volcanoes and south slopes. Gradual warming except snow levels locally lower near the Cascade Passes. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Warmer. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers, except occasionally heavy around Mt. Baker. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow, heaviest volcanoes and south slopes. Gradual warming except snow levels locally lower northeast Cascades. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Warmer. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. |
| Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday |
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow, gradual warming. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. |
| Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. |
Issued: 7:18 AM PDT Friday, March 28, 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 | Freezing Level * | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 5000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 0.75 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0 - 2.00 | 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: 7:18 AM PDT Friday, March 28, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | S 15 - 25 | --- - | SSE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Mid-day | --- - | --- - | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | --- - | --- - | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Mid-day | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Mid-day | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Mid-day | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon - Saturday Mid-day | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 25 - 40 |
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: 7:18 AM PDT Friday, March 28, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
On Sunday, there shouldn't be an upper level disturbance focusing shower activity...so with a relatively unstable air mass and daytime heating...a gradual build up to afternoon showers is expected at seasonally cool snow levels.
Model differences still exist for Monday and Tuesday on how far south into California a cut-off upper level low will pass and whether or not any precipitation bands rotating up from the low reach us or if the PNW stays relatively dry during the period. A better chance for light rain or snow is likely further south near Mt. Hood. Snow levels should moderate early next week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood area
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers. Cooler.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers.
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow, precipitation likeliest near Mt. Hood.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Monday - Tuesday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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 27, 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.