Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Tuesday
The persisent upper level ridge offshore has flattened and tilted east over the intermountain west... opening the door for frontal systems with a subtropical tap of moisture to pass over the PNW. Moderate to heavy rain and snow will continue today with a weak frontal boundary passing through in the afternoon with a slight cooling trend.
As the first frontal system passes east tonight.. a brief drying trend should take place for the north Cascades and Olympics, while the Mt. Hood area should not see a substantial break between systems. The next low pressure system will begin to develop Saturday night along the baroclinic zone oriented SW-NE offshore. A low pressure system will spin up along the Washington Coast Sunday... bringing another round of steady rain and snow to the mountains. Snow levels look a bit lower with this system... but the track and timing of this second wave is far from certain and will impact the details. Expect some forecast tweaks with the afternoon forecast issuance.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades
| Saturday - Saturday Mid-day |
Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night |
Moderate rain and snow showers easing overnight becoming light showers. Partial clearing possible north Cascades. Slight cooling trend. |
| Sunday |
Light rain and snow developing south Washington Cascades and spreading north during the day. |
| Sunday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showers from south to north overnight. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Saturday |
Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Moderate rain and snow. Slight cooling trend. |
| Sunday Night |
Becoming mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Windy. |
Issued: 8:13 AM PDT Saturday, March 14, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 6500' | 6000' | 6500' | ' | ' | 7500' | ' | 9000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5000' | 5500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 7500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 7000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5500' (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
| Tuesday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 - 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Paradise | 2.00 - 3.00 | 0 - 2.00 |
| White Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 2.00 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 2.00 - 3.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
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: 8:13 AM PDT Saturday, March 14, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 | S 15 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | SE 5 - 15 | E 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 35 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday | SE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | E 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Sunday | SE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | E 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | W 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 40 - 50 | --- - | W 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 45 - 55 |
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: 8:13 AM PDT Saturday, March 14, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
Depending on how long the low hangs around offshore Monday... steady rain and snow may continue for the Olympics and north Cascades while a drying trend begins for areas further south. Timing details are up in the air, but a weak front passing through into central British Columbia on Tuesday may bring a bit of light precipitation at moderate snow levels.
Weak upper level ridging should build over the area Wednesday along with a slight warming trend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers, occasionally moderate north Cascades. Showers tapering off Monday afternoon and night.
Periods of light rain and snow, drying trend overnight.
Partly to mostly sunny. Warmer.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday | Freezing Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | 7500' - 8500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
* 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
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