Issued: 2:30 PM PST Friday, February 27, 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 Friday & Thursday

The vertically stacked low pressure system has dug south along the Washington coast and is located just west of Astoria this afternoon. Steady light rain and snow for the south Washington Cascades has come to and end, but additional light accumulations are expected this afternoon and evening. As the low opens and shifts over Oregon later 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. Upslope showers should continue for the north slopes of the Olympics and south and central east slopes of the Cascades. Mt. Hood has been in westerly flow and light showers most of the day. As winds back to NE... there is still the potential for moderate accumulations in the evening.  

Overall, a drying trend from north to south should begin late Friday afternoon and continue overnight as colder and drier 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

North and central Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens and Snoqualmie Passes
Friday Afternoon

Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers, partial clearing trend north Cascades.  

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Isolated showers ending early in the evening.  Becoming mostly clear overnight. Moderate easterly winds. Colder. 

South Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including White Pass and Olympics
Friday Afternoon

Cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers.  

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear.  Moderate easterly winds. Colder. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Friday Afternoon

Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers except occasionally moderate central and southeast Cascades.   

Friday Night - Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening, then mostly clear.  Moderate easterly winds. Colder. 

Mt. Hood Area
Friday - Friday Evening

Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. 

Friday Night

Partial clearing Friday night.  Moderate to strong easterly winds. Colder. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Afternoon Snow Level * 4000' 3500' 3000' ' ' 3500' ' 4000'
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Freezing Level * 1500' 1000' 1000' ' ' 2000' ' 1500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level * 5000' 4000' 3500' ' ' 4500' ' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
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 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 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 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 Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
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 Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
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
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
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 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 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 Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
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 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 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 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 Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
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 Afternoon E 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20 ESE 15 - 25 --- - VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NE 20 - 30 NE 15 - 25 NE 20 - 30 --- - NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25 NE 15 - 25 NNE 15 - 25 --- - NE 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night N 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 15 - 25
Saturday Night N 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon NNE 15 - 25
Saturday Night N 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Afternoon --- -
Friday Night - Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night - Saturday Morning NE 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NE 30 - 40
Saturday Night NE 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

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
Sunday

Mostly sunny, with increasing high clouds central and north Cascades and Olympics in the afternoon. 

Sunday Night - Monday

Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow showers. 

Monday Night - Tuesday

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'
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 27, 2015

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