Issued: 7:58 AM PDT Saturday, April 4, 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 Saturday & Monday

Another cold morning around the PNW with overnight lows in the teens and 20s at most NWAC stations. An upper low positioned off the central B.C. coast will be the central weather feature through early next week.  A weak shortwave along the coast should mainly affect the Olympics with showers today.  For Mt. Hood and the Cascades, expect a mix of clouds and sun with a chance for showers in the afternoon.  With cold air aloft and daytime warming... the air mass over the PNW will become unstable and a chance of afternoon or early evening thunderstorms can't be ruled out over the weekend. 

A shortwave rotating around the low on Sunday should push additional cloud cover over the area early Sunday morning and then focus shower activity on Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades in the afternoon and Sunday night as it shifts inland.  

Weather Forecast

Washington Cascades
Saturday Morning

A mix of sun and clouds. 

Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds Sunday morning. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday Morning

A mix of sun and clouds. 

Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening

Partly sunny with scattered light rain and snow showers. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds Sunday morning. 

Olympics
Saturday

Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Increasing high clouds Sunday morning. 

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 2000' 1500' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 3500' 3500' ' ' 4000' ' 4000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 4000' 4000' ' ' 3500' ' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'

* 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 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 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 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 --- - E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night SE 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning SE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning SE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday W 0 - 10
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning E 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WSW 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
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 --- - W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 --- - SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 10 - 20 --- - S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday - Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Saturday Night SE 0 - 10
Sunday - Sunday Night E 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night SE 10 - 20
Sunday - Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday - Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 0 - 10
Sunday - Sunday Night S 0 - 10

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

The upper low should have slipped as far south as the CA/OR coastal waters by Monday afternoon leading to afternoon/evening showers. The low should begin to shift inland into California on Tuesday... and a final shortwave may rotate through increasing shower coverage over the southern half of the forecast area.  An improving trend should begin Wednesday as upper level ridging builds from 130 W into British Columbia, but there still be a chance of light showers in the afternoon.  A slow warming trend should take place over the extended forecast.   

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Monday - Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. 

Wednesday

Partly sunny with a chance of afternoon light rain and snow showers. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 2500' - 3500' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Tuesday - Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Tuesday - Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Tuesday - Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'

* 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 31, 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.