Issued: 8:08 AM PDT Wednesday, March 25, 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 Wednesday & Saturday

Warm frontal moisture draped over the area this morning will slowly lift north later this afternoon and overnight as the upper level ridge axis, currently near 130 W, shifts along the coast later this afternoon and amplifies shunting precipitation into British Columbia. Rising snow levels will be the theme of the day, but a period of easterly flow in the Cascade Passes will allow for locally cooler snow levels through mid-day.  

As skies become mostly sunny on Thursday, a warm air mass should be in place with freezing levels settling between 10000-11000 feet. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Wednesday

Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate warming trend. 

Wednesday Night

Light rain and snow ending south Cascades in the evening and becoming partly cloudy. Light rain and snow tapering down north Cascades and Olympics overnight.  Warming trend. 

Thursday

Partly cloudy north part, mostly sunny south part. Warm. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday

Light rain and snow. Moderate warming trend. 

Wednesday Night

Light rain and snow ending south Cascades in the evening and becoming partly cloudy. Light rain and snow tapering down north Cascades overnight.  Warming trend. 

Thursday

Partly cloudy north part, mostly sunny south part. Warm. 

Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day

Light rain and snow. Moderate warming trend. 

Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow tapering off in the afternoon and clearing Wednesday night. Warming trend. 

Thursday

Mostly sunny and warm. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 6000' 3500' 3000' ' ' 4500' ' 6000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 8000' 6500' 6000' ' ' 6500' ' 7500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 8000' 7500' 7000' ' ' 7000' ' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
8000'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
10500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
7500'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
10000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
7000'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
10000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
7000'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
10500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
7500'
Thursday - Thursday Night Freezing Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Saturday Saturday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 1.00 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 - 1.00 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 1.00 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 --- - WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 SW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25 --- - SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning - Wednesday Mid-day WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night - Thursday Night SW 5 - 15

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
Wednesday WSW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 --- - WNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 25 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 --- - W 10 - 20
Thursday SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 --- - SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night WSW 15 - 25
Thursday SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday WNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday SW 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

Another frontal system will approach from the west Friday resulting in an increase clouds during the day on Friday... with light rain and snow perhaps developing in the afternoon for the Olympics and north Cascades.  The front looks likely to come through Friday night, with snow levels lowering to moderate levels.  Post frontal shower activity should linger through Saturday morning before weak ridging in westerly flow develops later in the day. 

Forecast models differ, but the general theme for the remainder of the weekend will be a frontal boundary hanging up around the Canadian border causing periods of light rain and snow for the Olympics and north Cascades with decreasing clouds and chance for precipitation further south.  A slow warming trend should be seen through the weekend as well.  

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Friday Morning

Partly cloudy. 

Friday Afternoon

Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades. 

Friday Night

Cloudy with light rain and snow, occasionally moderate west slopes of the Cascades.  Cooling trend.  

Saturday Morning

Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. 

Saturday Afternoon - Sunday

Mostly cloudy Olympics and north Cascades with periods of light rain and snow.  Partly cloudy central and south Cascades. Mostly clear Mt. Hood. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Morning Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' 10000' - 11000' 10500' - 11500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 6000' - 7000' 7000' - 8000' 7000' - 8000'
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 3500' - 5000' 4500' - 5500'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level 4500' - 5500' 4500' - 5500' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10000' - 11000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000' - 8000'
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500' - 5000'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500' - 11500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
7000' - 8000'
Friday Night - Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Saturday Afternoon - Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday 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 20, 2015

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