Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Monday
Afternoon update: The frontal boundary has sagged a bit further south and provided a bit more moisture to the northwest Cascades than forecast... and water amounts for Day 1 (ending Fri 4 am PST) have been revised upward.
Upper level ridging didn't hang around very long this time over the Pacific Northwest and the upper level ridge axis has begun to tilt toward the Canadian Rockies this morning. A frontal boundary will remain draped over southern British Columbia through Friday and bring light to occasionally moderate rain and snow to the Olympics and north Cascades along filtered sunshine and occasional sunbreaks further south.
The front should finally pass through Friday night, with clouds increasing for all areas during the day and light rain and snow developing by late afternoon or evening. Post-frontal showers will follow mainly the west slopes of the Cascades late Friday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics and north Washington Cascades including Stevens Pass
| Thursday - Friday |
Cloudy with light rain and snow, occasionally moderate north Cascades. |
| Friday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers overnight. |
Central and south Washington Cascades including Snoqualmie and White Passes and Mt. Hood area
| Thursday - Friday Mid-day |
Mostly cloudy with a mix of filtered sunshine and sunbreaks. Less clouds Mt. Hood. |
| Friday Afternoon |
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing. |
| Friday Night |
Cloudy with light rain and snow becoming showers overnight. |
Issued: 2:34 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 7000' | 5000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday | Snow Level | 7000' | 6000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday 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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0 - 1.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 2:34 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 15 - 30 | S 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 35 - 50 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon - Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday 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: 2:34 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
Left over showers should diminish Saturday morning, but the air mass should be marginally unstable with the upper level trough overhead keeping a mix of clouds and showers in the forecast.
There should be a dry period for the mountains from Saturday night through at least part of Sunday. Forecast models disagree how quickly the next splitting frontal system will approach from the west, and we may squeeze in a mostly sunny and dry Sunday. The weak frontal system should pass through Sunday night, with a colder and unstable air mass in place for the Monday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Light rain and snow showers except occasionally moderate along the west slopes of the Cascades.
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Partly cloudy.
Increasing clouds.
Light rain and snow.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Saturday Night - Sunday | Freezing Level | 4000' - 6000' | 4500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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 19, 2015
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