Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Sunday
A transitory upper level ridge along the coast will continue to shift inland today. Low level moisture banked along the west slopes of the Cascades this morning has lifted and partially scattered this afternoon. An afternoon increase in high clouds from an approaching frontal system should average to a partly sunny day for the Olympics and west slopes side and mostly sunny along the east slopes.
High clouds should increase further Wednesday night and begin to lower Thursday morning. A north-south oriented frontal band will slowly move inland on Thursday. Precipitation timing has been pushed back slighlty with the afternoon update; light precipitation should hold off until Thursday afternoon for the Cascades, and even a bit later for Mt. Hood on Thursday. More of a southerly component with this front should somewhat favor the volcanoes and south slopes. Easterly flow may locally keep light wet snow at Snoqualmie Pass through Thursday evening despite slightly higher free-air snow levels.
The front should stall over the area Thursday evening until the upper level trough axis finally comes Thursday night and transitions light rain and snow to showers.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday |
Partly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night |
Becoming cloudy overnight. |
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Clouds lowering with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon, becoming occasionally moderate volcanoes in the evening. Snow levels initially cooler Cascade Passes due to easterly flow. |
| Thursday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday |
Mostly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Becoming cloudy overnight. |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Evening |
Clouds lowering with light rain and snow developing Thursday afternoon. |
| Thursday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday |
Partly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night |
Becoming cloudy overnight. |
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Light rain and snow developing Thursday afternoon and becoming light to occasionally moderate Thursday evening. |
| Thursday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
Olympics
| Wednesday |
Partly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
| Wednesday Night |
Becoming cloudy overnight. |
| Thursday - Thursday Evening |
Clouds lowering with light rain and snow developing in the morning, becoming occasionally moderate south slopes in the afternoon and evening. |
| Thursday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 2:15 PM PDT Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 4500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening | Snow Level * | 4000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| 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: 2:15 PM PDT Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | --- - | S 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - | --- - | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | --- - | --- - | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
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: 2:15 PM PDT Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Scattered showers at cool snow levels should follow on Friday with NW flow aloft. Showers should decrease Friday night. A wetter pattern with a warming trend looks likely for the weekend. A warm frontal band in westerly flow aloft should spread light rain and snow over the area early on Saturday at moderate snow levels with a gradual warming trend and uptick in the precipitation intensity during the day. The heaviest precipitation looks most likely to occur Saturday night. Another warm frontal system with higher snow levels may impact the area on Sunday as upper level ridging begins to build along the California coastline. The ridge looks likely to build and lead to drier weather for the PNW early next week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers decreasing Friday night.
Light rain and snow becoming light to moderate Saturday afternoon with a gradual warming trend.
Moderate rain and snow with increasing winds.
Light rain and snow with further warming.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
* 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 Apr 2, 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.