Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, February 25, 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 Wednesday & Sunday

Afternoon update: Day 2 precipitation amounts have revised downward. 

A weak upper level shortwave passed through yesterday, knocking down freezing levels a bit and producing some light showers overnight. A weak weather system in NW flow aloft will work it's way over the PNW this afternoon and tonight.  Clouds should increase today, along with some light rain and snow developing first for the Olympics and north Cascades in the afternoon and spreading south overnight. Precipitation totals look light with this system with snow levels mainly in the 3500-4500 ft range. Scattered showers will continue Wednesday night in light westerly flow. 

The stacked low pressure system will dive south Thursday night... and this now looks like it should deliver only a moderate shot of precipitation to the Mt. Hood area, with lighter amounts further north. There may be some light upslope showers along the north slopes of the Olympics Thursday night as winds become northeasterly.

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Wednesday Afternoon

Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with occasional light rain and snow. 

Thursday

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday Afternoon

Cloudy with light rain and snow developing northeast Cascades and Olympics and spreading south late in the afternoon. 

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with occasional light rain and snow. 

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with occasional light rain and snow showers. 

Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday

Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow. 

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with light rain and snow. 

Thursday

Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level 4500' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4000' ' 4500'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4500' ' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Mid-day - Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'
(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

Sunday Sunday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
LT 0.25 0 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15 --- - NW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Night E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Thursday Night E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Night W 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 - Thursday Morning W 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 15 - 30 --- - NW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15 WNW 0 - 10 WNW 10 - 20 --- - NW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning W 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Night NE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 15 - 30
Thursday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Afternoon - Thursday Morning NW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Thursday Night W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

As the upper low settles over central Oregon Friday, the air mass should be relatively unstable with cold air aloft and day time heating keeping showers in the forecast.  The heaviest showers and accumulations will likely be closest to the low... again for the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area. 

As the low digs over the Great Basin Friday night... the flow will veer to NE and help usher in a quick but cold shot of air from the interior. E-NE winds should also increase Friday night through Saturday. Although a drying trend should quickly ensue Saturday... temperatures and winds should keep it feeling wintry. The upper ridge axis will rebuild offshore around 140W over the weekend... and freezing levels should moderate on Sunday and E-NE winds should ease. 

 

Extended Weather

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday - Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, showers may occasionally be moderate in the afternoon and evening. 

Saturday

Becoming mostly sunny. Breezy and cooler. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Mostly clear. 

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Friday - Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers south Washington Cascade and Mt. Hood, partly cloudy with scattered light showers central, north Cascades and Olympics. 

Saturday

Becoming mostly sunny. Breezy and cooler. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Mostly clear. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' *
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' *
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Sunday Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Sunday Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
Sunday Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'

* 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.

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Previous forecast from Feb 25, 2015

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