Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Thursday
The parade of fronts in moist and mild southwesterly flow began this morning with warm frontal moisture draped over Washington. Expect heavy rain and snow for north Cascades and more moderate amounts of precipitation further south. A warming trend will also occur today, with a front passing through the Cascades in the early afternoon and switching the pass level winds to westerly. Snowfall at Stevens Pass and mixed precipitation at Snoqualmie switched to all rain by late morning.
The next wave developing frontal system will lift through Thursday night, again with Mt. Baker receiving the most and Mt. Hood the least precipitation. SW winds near and above treeline will vary between moderate and strong throughout the short term.
The jet stream will begin to drop south on Friday and a weaker frontal system will pass through during the day with most of the energy and precipitation passing into N. California. Some cooling will take place aloft... lowering snow levels a bit but still well above pass level Friday night and Saturday.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Thursday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Milder. |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Light to moderate rain and snow, except heavy Mt. Baker area. |
| Friday Night |
Light rain and snow showers, except occasionally moderate Mt. Baker area. Slight cooling trend. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday Afternoon |
Light rain and snow showers. Milder. |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Light rain and snow, except occasionally moderate northeast Cascades. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday - Thursday |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Warming trend. |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Light rain and snow. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. |
Issued: 2:39 PM PST Thursday, February 5, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night | Snow Level | 7000' | 6500' | 7000' | ' | ' | 7500' | ' | 8000' |
| Friday | Snow Level | 6500' | 6500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 5500' | 5000' | 5000' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Thursday Night |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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
| Thursday | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 3.50 - 4.50 | 2.00 - 3.00 |
| Washington Pass | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.50 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.75 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.00 | 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: 2:39 PM PST Thursday, February 5, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 25 - 40 | SSW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 25 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 25 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night - Friday | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 50 - 65 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 45 - 55 | SW 45 - 55 | SW 50 - 60 | --- - | SW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 50 - 60 | --- - | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Evening | SW 50 - 65 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 50 - 60 |
| Friday 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: 2:39 PM PST Thursday, February 5, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The active pattern will continue on Saturday with another ill-defined system rotating through in SW flow aloft. There may actually be a 12-24 hour break between systems before the next one arrives Sunday afternoon, rotating up from the south. Snow levels should mainly oscillate between 5000-6000 feet from the weekend through Monday for the WA Cascades.
A stacked low offshore should move the area later Monday, keeping light to moderate showers in the forecast.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Light to moderate rain and snow developing Mt. Hood mid-day and spreading north.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' - 7000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
* 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 Feb 5, 2015
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.