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 & Wednesday
A deep and seasonally cold upper level low located off the Washington/Vancouver Island coastline continues to keep the PNW in a cool and active pattern leading into the weekend. Most of the moisture and lift is well to our south...but an unstable air mass and daytime heating will keep showers increasing this afternoon over the mountains. An afternoon or early evening isolated thunderstorm cannot be ruled.
Skies should partially clear overnight as scattered showers taper off. Increasing high clouds from an approaching frontal system will spread over the Olympics by Saturday afternoon. Light showers may still bubble up over the Cascades in advance of the frontal system on Saturday. Despite the low snow levels forecast...only a few breaks of sunshine are needed to push temperatures above freezing this time of year.
The frontal system will cross the Cascades Saturday night. The front looks like it will break apart as it crosses the Cascades with the most snow likely from Mt. Rainier south to Mt. Hood.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday night with showers diminishing. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Becoming cloudy with increasing light to moderate rain and snow overnight. |
Olympics
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday night with showers diminishing. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow overnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday night with showers diminishing. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Partly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Becoming cloudy with increasing light to moderate rain and snow overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday night with showers diminishing. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Becoming cloudy with increasing light to moderate rain and snow overnight. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Becoming partly cloudy Friday night with showers diminishing. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Becoming cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night |
Moderate rain and snow and becoming windy. |
Issued: 3:05 PM PDT Friday, April 25, 2014
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 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: 3:05 PM PDT Friday, April 25, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 30 |
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 Afternoon | --- - | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | --- - | --- - | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | --- - | --- - | SW 20 - 35 | --- - | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Mid-day | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 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: 3:05 PM PDT Friday, April 25, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Despite the middling precipitation amounts Saturday night...decent orographic flow behind the front and an unstable air mass will combine for a cool and showery day Sunday. Snow levels should have dipped to or below 3000 feet by Sunday morning. There should once again be the possibility for thunderstorms in the afternoon. A potential Puget Sound convergence zone may form Sunday afternoon and evening.
Shower coverage should diminish Sunday night as a shortwave ridge builds offshore. The transitory ridge will move over the area on Monday...but there may enough moisture trapped under the ridge for a mostly cloudy day along the west slopes and isolated mountain showers.
Long range models suggest a front hanging up along the Olympics and Washington Coast Tuesday morning. The frontal band is forecast to lift north into Vancouver Island as upper level ridge builds along the inland West Coast and sets the stage for a drying and warming trend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Mostly cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. Breezy at times. Continued cool. Isolated thunderstorms possible in the afternoon and evening.
Becoming partly cloudy.
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow Olympics. Partly to mostly cloudy elsewhere.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 5000' | 4000' - 5500' | |
| Monday Night - Tuesday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 4500' - 6000' | 6000' - 7500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 5000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5500' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7500' |
* 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 10, 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.
The next NWAC mountain weather forecast will be issued near 730 AM Saturday, April 26th.