Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Tuesday
Temperatures at many NWAC sites are already near or in the 50s early this afternoon as high clouds ahead of an approaching frontal system stream in from the SW.
Upper level ridging over the coast will shift east tonight as a stacked low pressure system offshore rotates the first frontal wave towards the area. Light rain and snow should develop overnight and continue through Wednesday.
Another front will pass through Wednesday night providing the west slopes with a moderate period of precipitation. Unfortunately, snow levels stay well above pass level for this storm. Precipitation forecasts have shifted with each model run... but this generally looks like a light to moderate precipitation event.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly cloudy with a high overcast. |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Cloudy lowering overnight with occasional light rain and snow developing. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers after midnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly cloudy with a high overcast. |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Cloudy lowering overnight with occasional light rain and snow developing. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light rain and snow becoming showers after midnight. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Becoming mostly cloudy with a high overcast. |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Cloudy lowering overnight with occasional light rain and snow developing. |
| Wednesday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers after midnight. |
Issued: 1:03 PM PDT Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | 10000' | 9500' | 9500' | ' | ' | 10000' | ' | 11000' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 5500' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6500' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level ' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 11000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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
| Tuesday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
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: 1:03 PM PDT Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | W 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: 1:03 PM PDT Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
Leftover showers should diminish during the day Thursday as upper level ridging re-establishes itself along the coast-line. However, a weak disturbance passing into British Columbia Thursday may keep additional clouds around and stunt the clearing trend for the Olympics and north/central WA Cascades.
Friday should be dry and mild... but high clouds ahead of a more powerful weather system will pass through the area. Forecast models are in decent agreement that moisture along a frontal band should be pumped into the region in mild SW flow beginning Friday night with precipitation increasing Saturday, especially for areas further north. While this should be most significant weather event so far in March, the snow levels will once again be on the high side, a story told many times over this winter.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers.
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers north part. Partly to mostly sunny with isolated rain and snow showers south part.
Partly to mostly cloudy with high clouds. Mild.
Light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades.
Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest west slopes of the Olympics and north Cascades. Warming trend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Thursday Night - Friday | Freezing Level | 8000' - 10000' | 9000' - 10500' | 10000' - 11000' | |
| Friday Night - Saturday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 10000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 9000' - 10500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 7000' - 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.
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 10, 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.