Issued: 10:54 AM PST Saturday, February 21, 2015
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 Saturday & Tuesday

A skinny amplified upper level ridge outside of 130 W extends well north into the Yukon this morning. Longwave troughing will dig over the intermountain western U.S. today... forming an omega blocking pattern over much of the west coast.  After some leftover morning clouds and possibly a few isolated showers along the east slopes of the Cascades... our region should be dry and mostly clear through the short term. 

The biggest story weather-wise will be the developing E-NE winds... found both near the Passes and also in the alpine. Breezy easterlies will develop today and continue through early Sunday... with winds becoming strong down near Mt. Hood. The winds will ease Sunday afternoon with a slow warming trend beginning. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Saturday Morning

Mostly clear, few clouds near the Cascade crest. 

Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning

Mostly clear. Breezy east winds near Cascade Passes and in the alpine. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Morning

Partly to mostly cloudy, chance of light snow showers. 

Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning

Becoming mostly clear Saturday afternoon. Breezy east winds near Cascade Passes and in the alpine. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday Morning

Partly cloudy. 

Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Afternoon

Partly cloudy, becoming mostly clear Saturday night. Breezy east winds becoming strong late Saturday afternoon and evening. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Freezing Level 3500' 3000' 2500' ' ' 3000' ' 4000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level * 5000' 4500' 3500' ' ' 4500' ' 4500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level * 4000' 2500' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(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.

Precipitation Forecast

Tuesday Tuesday
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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning NE 5 - 15 NE 10 - 20 N 5 - 15 --- - N 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 25 E 15 - 25 --- - E 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25 NE 10 - 20 E 15 - 25 --- - E 20 - 30
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20 NE 5 - 15 E 15 - 30 --- - E 30 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning NE 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night NE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning NE 10 - 20
Saturday Mid-day NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning N 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day E 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon E 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 15 - 30
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning N 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day E 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon E 20 - 30
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 30 - 45
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night E 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NE 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night NE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NE 10 - 20
Saturday Mid-day NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning N 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day E 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon E 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 15 - 30
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Mid-day --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning N 5 - 15
Saturday Mid-day E 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon E 20 - 30
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 30 - 45
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night E 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
Saturday Morning NE 15 - 25 N 20 - 30 N 10 - 20 --- - N 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 25 --- - NE 25 - 35
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 20 - 30 NE 15 - 25 NE 20 - 30 --- - NE 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 30 --- - NE 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Sunday Night N 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning N 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Sunday Night N 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning N 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NE 15 - 30
Sunday Night NNE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning N 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 25 - 35
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NE 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon NE 30 - 40
Sunday Night NE 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

Upper level ridging should slide closer to the coast on Monday and winds should be light, skies sunny, and temperatures mild.  An upper level shortwave will begin to dig down in NW flow on Tuesday...and should help usher in some low level moisture and potentially an increase in clouds mainly for the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics in the afternoon.  

A series of upper level disturbances should begin to swing through in N-NW flow aloft Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing a chance for light rain and snow showers at cooler snow levels to the mountains. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Monday - Tuesday Morning

Mostly clear and mild. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Increasing clouds along the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades, otherwise mostly sunny.  Slight cooling trend. 

Tuesday Night - Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Cooler. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday - Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' 8500' - 9500' 8500' - 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' 5000' - 6000' 6000' - 7000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'

* 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 18, 2015

Updated Mt. Hood forecast for today

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.