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 & Monday
A warm and moist frontal system crossed the PNW Tuesday afternoon and night before cooling and depositing a few inches to a foot of snow along the west slopes of the Cascades. The trailing upper level trough located along the coast late this morning will push inland during the day and maintain NW flow aloft. A cooler unstable airmass over the area will lead to scattered light snow showers. An area of convergence formed downwind of Vancouver Island and mainly north of Stevens Pass should see the steadiest light snowfall.
An upper level ridge will build offshore through the short term. Moisture along with light upslope flow should keep skies partly to mostly cloudy along the west slopes through this period. Isolated snow showers along the west slopes are possible through Thursday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers, heaviest around convergence zone north of Stevens Pass. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy with sunbreaks. Isolated light snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night |
Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Light snow. |
| Wednesday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers. |
Issued: 11:54 AM PST Wednesday, December 24, 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 | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 2500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 1000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
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: 11:54 AM PST Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Evening | NW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night | NW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 30 - 40 | --- - | NW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Night | N 5 - 15 | N 5 - 15 | NW 10 - 20 | --- - | NW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 25 - 35 | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | NW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Night | NW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday - Thursday Night | NW 20 - 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.
Issued: 11:54 AM PST Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
Friday should be more of the same with some clouds and isolated showers along the west slopes and generally clear and dry conditions east of the crest.
The next weather system of substance should arrive Saturday. An upper level shortwave in the gulf of Alaska will flatten the ridge offshore as it works southward Friday night. A compact upper low should spread precipitation over the Olympics and North Cascades early Saturday morning. Moderate precipitation is expected for all areas during the day. The tricky part of this forecast will be a modest bump in snow levels mid-day with winds in the Cascade Passes staying westerly.
Northerly flow should quickly dry out the area on Sunday. Strong high pressure over central British Columbia will begin to push much colder air into our region. There may be some light upslope showers along the northern slopes of the Olympics and along the east slopes of the Cascades Sunday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers.
Partly cloudy. Increasing clouds with light snow beginning Olympics and north Cascades late.
Moderate rain and snow with increasing winds. Slight warming.
Light to moderate snow showers decreasing overnight. Cooler.
Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers. Colder.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Saturday Night - Sunday | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
* 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 Dec 19, 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.