Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Friday
A stacked low pressure system is diving south along the Washington coast toward Grays Harbor this morning. Light rain and snow on the north side of the low has shifted a bit further north than indicated yesterday... but this should not greatly change precipitation Day 1 forecasts except for a slight increase for Snoqualmie Pass. Moderate amounts of precipitation are expected for the south Washington Cascdes, Mt. Hood area, and along the north slopes of the Olympics with some upslope enhancement.
As the low opens and shifts over Oregon this afternoon... a marginally unstable air mass with allow showers to form over the mountains over the east slopes and drift west of the crest. A drying trend from north to south should begin Friday afternoon and continue overnight as colder air moves into the region.
Moderate to locally strong easterly winds will develop overnight Friday. Winds should decrease Saturday afternoon... except for Mt. Hood where they should locally be strong through the day. Freezing levels should remain on the cool side Saturday.
Weather Forecast
South Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including White Pass and Olympics
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Partly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear. Moderate easterly winds. Colder. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Mostly clear. |
North and central Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day |
Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Partly sunny north Cascades to mostly cloudy central Cascades with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Isolated showers ending early in the evening. Mostly clear. Moderate easterly winds. Colder. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Becoming mostly clear Friday night. Moderate to strong easterly winds. Colder. |
| Saturday Night |
Mostly clear. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday Morning - Friday Mid-day |
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate central and southeast Cascades. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Partly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear. Moderate easterly winds. Colder. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Mostly clear. |
Issued: 7:59 AM PST Friday, February 27, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Freezing Level * | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level * | 4000' | 2500' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
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: 7:59 AM PST Friday, February 27, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 | NE 10 - 20 | E 15 - 25 | --- - | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 10 - 20 | NE 15 - 25 | E 15 - 30 | --- - | E 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 | NE 5 - 15 | ENE 5 - 15 | --- - | ENE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | NE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | E 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | E 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | NE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | E 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | E 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ENE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | E 10 - 20 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 | E 0 - 10 | SSE 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 | NE 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 25 - 35 | NE 15 - 25 | NE 15 - 25 | --- - | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | NE 15 - 30 | NE 15 - 30 | NE 15 - 30 | --- - | NE 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | --- - | NE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | NE 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | NE 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | NE 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | N 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | NE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon | NE 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | NE 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: 7:59 AM PST Friday, February 27, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Sunday should be a fair weather day, beginning mostly sunny before increasing high clouds start to advance from the NW for the Olympics and north and central Cascades. A weak upper level trough is forecast to move over the area Sunday night and Monday... but produce only an increase in clouds and a few showers.
A high amplitiude ridge located offshore will shift closer on Tuesday, but strong surface high pressure over the northern Rockies will help drive a shot of cold air toward the PNW... with freezing levels struggling to recover despite sunny skies during the day.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Mostly sunny, with increasing high clouds central and north Cascades and Olympics in the afternoon.
Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers.
Mostly clear and cold.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Monday Night - Tuesday | Freezing Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
* 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 26, 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.