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 & Tuesday
A subtropical stream of moisture over the eastern Pacific will merge with an upper level low in the Gulf of Alaska today to drive copious amounts of moisture into the PNW over the next 48 hours. The upper level ridge offshore will flatten as this system develops... but the jet stream will stay well to our north allowing warm air to be pumped into the region.
Snow levels will start low Sunday morning as warm frontal moisture spreads over the area during the day. Warm air will push inland during the daylight hours... but initial cool easterly flow should maintain only a gradual rise in snow levels for the Cascades. As the upper trough pushes through Sunday night... winds will become westerly in the passes and precipitation rates will increase. A sharp rise in snow levels should occur Sunday evening and continue overnight with snow generally changing to rain in the mountains. Precipitation will remain moderate to heavy along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics through Monday morning.
Stormy conditions will begin to subside Monday afternoon as the upper level ridge rebuilds offshore and precipitation decreases from south to north during the day... and finally comes to an end Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate snow. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow. Winds increasing. Gradual warming trend... except locally lower snow levels in the Cascade Passes. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Stormy. Heavy rain and snow with strong warming trend. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Mild. |
| Monday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow ending overnight. Mild. |
Olympics
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow. Winds increasing. Strong warming trend. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Stormy. Moderate to heavy rain and snow, heaviest west slopes of the Olympics. Mild. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light to occasionally rain and snow. Mild. |
| Monday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow ending overnight. Mild. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate snow. Windy. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow. Winds increasing. Gradual warming trend. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Stormy. Heavy rain and snow with strong warming trend. |
| Monday Mid-day - Monday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Mild. |
| Monday Night |
Very light rain and snow ending overnight and becoming mostly cloudy. Mild. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday Morning |
Light snow. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Light to moderate snow. Winds increasing. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Stormy. Moderate rain and snow except heavy near the Cascade crest. Strong warming trend. |
| Monday Afternoon |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Mild. |
| Monday Night |
Periods of light rain and snow ending overnight. Mild. |
Issued: 8:01 AM PST Sunday, January 4, 2015
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 * | 2500' | 1000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 3500' |
| Sunday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 5000' | 2000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 8000' | 3500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5500' |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night | Snow Level | 10000' | 6500' | 5000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 9000' | 5000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 7500' | ' | 8000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | Snow Level | 7500' | 7000' | 6500' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 10000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Evening - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 8000' |
* 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 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 3.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | 2.00 - 3.00 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Stevens Pass | 3.00 - 4.00 | 0 - 2.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 4.00 | 2.00 - 3.00 |
| Mission Ridge | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 2.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 4.00 - 5.00 | 0 - 2.00 |
| White Pass | 0 - 3.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 3.00 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 3.00 - 4.00 | 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: 8:01 AM PST Sunday, January 4, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 40 - 55 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 40 - 55 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 40 - 55 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | WSW 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 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | --- - | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 | SW 50 - 60 | WSW 45 - 55 | --- - | W 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 | W 45 - 60 | W 50 - 70 | --- - | W 55 - 75 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 | WNW 45 - 55 | WNW 50 - 60 | --- - | NW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Night | W 30 - 40 | WNW 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Monday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 45 - 60 |
| Monday Afternoon | WNW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Night | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 50 - 70 |
| Monday Afternoon | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Monday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 55 - 75 |
| Monday Afternoon | NW 45 - 55 |
| Monday Night | W 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.
Issued: 8:01 AM PST Sunday, January 4, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
A strong upper level ridge extending from the intermountain West through Washington state will keep dry weather and a mild air mass over the region through Thursday. Freezing levels will be high and skies mostly clear. Temperatures should be warmer in the alpine than in the valleys/passes during this period. A weak front may approach the coast on Thursday... spreading some high clouds over the Olympics later in the day.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Becoming mostly clear south to north on Tuesday. Mild.
Mostly clear. Mild. Increasing clouds Thursday afternoon Olympics.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday - Wednesday | Freezing Level | 10000' - 11000' | 10000' - 11000' | 11000' - 12000' | |
| Thursday | Freezing Level | 8000' - 9000' | 8500' - 9500' | 8500' - 9500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Wednesday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Wednesday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Wednesday |
Freezing Level 11000' - 12000' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
* 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 Jan 3, 2015
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