Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday & Thursday
A weak upper level shortwave over central British Columbia has somewhat flattened the persistent upper level ridge offshore around 130W. This weak weather system will have little impact on our weather, except for some passing high clouds near the Canadian border this morning.
The upper level ridge will amplify offshore this afternoon and shift inland on Tuesday. Freezing levels will rise overnight and through Tuesday. An approaching frontal system should begin to spread high clouds into the region mid-day Tuesday. Weak warm frontal precipitation should reach the area by later Tuesday night and SW winds should increase.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Mostly clear and mild. |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds. |
| Tuesday Night |
Becoming cloudy with cloud bases lowering overnight. Very light rain and snow possible after midnight. |
Issued: 1:31 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | Freezing Level | 9000' | 8000' | 8000' | ' | ' | 9000' | ' | 10500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 10000' | 9500' | 9500' | ' | ' | 10000' | ' | 10500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 10500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
* 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 | 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 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 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: 1:31 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | SW 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | W 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 45 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
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: 1:31 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The main frontal band should stay offshore Wednesday as the low pressure system lifts north toward the central British Columbia coast with periods of light rain and snow glancing the area. The front is forecast to push through the Cascades Wednesday night, with a brief window for some moderate precipitation for the west slopes and Mt. Hood area. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like snow levels will lower significantly behind the front.
The upper level ridge will build offshore once again at the end of the week with freezing levels rising to near 10,000 feet Friday. A more significant weather system should impact the PNW over the weekend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Cloudy with occasional light rain and snow.
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood area becoming showers overnight.
Becoming partly to mostly sunny with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Mostly clear and mild, becoming partly to mostly cloudy Friday afternoon.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Thursday Night - Friday | Freezing Level | 8500' - 9500' | 9000' - 10000' | 10000' - 11000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 9000' - 10000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
* 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 Mar 9, 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.