Issued: 7:13 AM PDT Sunday, April 6, 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 Sunday & Sunday

A wet and warm frontal system passed over the Pacific Northwest Saturday and Saturday night and brought a decent amount of rain to lower elevations and 3-10" of heavy wet snow above about 5000' along the west slopes of the Cascades through early Sunday morning. This system has passed to our east and a strong ridge of high pressure will amplify offshore along 130W today.  Light rain and snow may affect the west slopes and most likely Mt. Hood this morning with a drying trend this afternoon.  However, ample upper level moisture streaming over the ridge and low level moisture trapped along the west slopes should prevent much clearing.  

A warm front may brush the Olympics and north Cascades tonight through mid-day Monday.  Otherwise a general drying and warming trend should ensue as the upper level ridge moves over the area.  Freezing levels on Monday should peak between 8000-10000 feet...with some high clouds still slipping under the ridge, especially over northern sections.  A front will approach the area Monday night from the west. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics and Washington Cascades
Sunday Morning

Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. 

Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning

Mostly cloudy with occasional very light rain and snow Olympics and north Cascades.  Gradual warming trend. 

Monday Afternoon

Partly sunny and warm.  

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday Morning

Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. 

Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with occasional very light rain and snow.  Gradual warming and clearing trend. 

Monday

Mostly sunny and warm.  

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning Snow Level 4000' ' ' ' ' 4000' ' 6500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 6000' ' ' ' ' 5500' ' 7000'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level 7000' ' ' ' ' 6000' ' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
8500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
9500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Night - Monday Morning Snow Level
7500'
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Freezing Level
10500'

* 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 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 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 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
0 - 0.50 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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
Sunday Morning --- - --- - NW 35 - 45 --- - WNW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon --- - --- - NW 30 - 40 --- - NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night - Monday --- - --- - WSW 15 - 25 --- - WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday --- -
Monday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday --- -
Monday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon NW 30 - 40
Sunday Night - Monday WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night - Monday WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night SW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

A Pacific frontal system should slowly pass south and east over the area Tuesday...bringing a shot of light to moderate precipitation for the Cascades but largely missing Mt. Hood as it passes through Tuesday night.  Behind this front a sharp cooling trend will take place late Tuesday night with leftover showers at lower snow levels on Wednesday.   Weak upper level ridging and mainly dry weather should take hold Wednesday night and Thursday as the next frontal system in NW flow aloft moves toward Vancouver Island. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades
Tuesday

Increasing light rain and snow Olympics and north Cascades.  Increasing and lowering clouds further south and east. 

Tuesday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow turning to showers overnight.  Sharp cooling trend overnight.  

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Cooler. 

Wednesday Night - Thursday

Partly to mostly cloudy. 

Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday

Partly sunny becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.  

Tuesday Night

Light rain and snow turning to showers overnight.  Moderate cooling trend overnight.  

Wednesday

Partly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.

Wednesday Night - Thursday

Partly cloudy. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Snow Level ' - ' 6000' - 7000' 7000' - 8000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night Snow Level ' - ' 3500' - 4500' 5000' - 6000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
' - '
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night Snow Level
' - '
Thursday Freezing Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Freezing Level
5500' - 7500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Snow Level
7000' - 8000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Thursday Freezing Level
8000' - 10000'

* 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

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