Issued: 2:05 PM PST Sunday, February 22, 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 Sunday & Monday

A skinny amplified upper level ridge located at 130 W extends well north into the B.C/Yukon and combined with longwave troughing over the intermountain western U.S. forms an omega blocking pattern over much of the west coast. This blocking high pressure pattern will lead to dry and mostly clear weather through the short term.   

Breezy E-NE winds found at the Cascade crest level and in the passes will continue for the first half of the day, however E-NE winds will be strong down near Mt. Hood through Sunday night. After a cool start Sunday morning some warming will take place Sunday afternoon, mainly in the alpine. 

The upper level ridge axis will shift closer to the PNW Monday, winds should be lighter and freezing levels will rise. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday

Partly to mostly sunny, slow warming trend. 

Washington Cascades
Sunday Afternoon

Partly to mostly sunny, East winds easing, slow warming trend. 

Sunday Night

Mostly clear. 

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday

Mostly sunny and cold. Moderate to strong east winds. 

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Mostly clear, breezy east winds. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level * 7500' 6000' 5000' ' ' 5000' ' 4000'
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level 9500' 9000' 8500' ' ' 8500' ' 8500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
9500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
7500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
9000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
6500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
6000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
7000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Monday Night Freezing Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
Monday Night Freezing 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

Monday Monday
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
Sunday Afternoon NE 5 - 15 NE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 --- - ENE 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 --- - E 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 --- - E 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon ENE 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon ENE 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10

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 NE 20 - 30 NNE 20 - 30 NE 20 - 30 --- - NE 30 - 40
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 10 - 20 N 15 - 25 N 5 - 15 --- - NE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon N 5 - 15 N 10 - 20 N 5 - 15 --- - NE 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday NE 20 - 30
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon N 5 - 15
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday NNE 20 - 30
Sunday Night - Monday Morning N 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon N 10 - 20
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday NE 20 - 30
Sunday Night - Monday Morning N 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon N 5 - 15
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday NE 30 - 40
Sunday Night - Monday Morning NE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Monday Night WNW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

A weak shortwave will approach from the NW on Tuesday. This should only bring an increase in mid and high level clouds to the area by Tuesday afternoon.  A general increase in cloudniess should be seen Tuesday night through Wednesday, but most forecast models keep precipitation out of the forecast.  

A more significant upper level shortwave in NW flow aloft should reach the area Wednesday night... bringing showers and cloudy conditions through Thursday.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday Morning

Mostly sunny. 

Tuesday Afternoon

Becoming partly to mostly cloudy with increasing mid and high clouds. Cooling trend. 

Tuesday Night - Wednesday

Partly to mostly cloudy. 

Wednesday Night - Thursday

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers, except occasionally moderate west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' 5000' - 6000' 6500' - 7500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' 3000' - 4000' 4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 5500' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Night - Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Night - Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
Wednesday Night - Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'

* 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 22, 2015

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