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 & Wednesday
High pressure will dominate our weather today as an upper level ridge centered along the coast slowly shifts inland. Strong surface high pressure to our east will produce moderate offshore flow today.
Free air freezing levels will be on the rise with 9000+ foot freezing levels forecast over the Olympics by Tuesday afternoon. However cold air along the east slopes and easterly flow will help suppress a rapid warming for the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Breezy E-SE winds at Pass level and for south and central Cascade ridge-lines exposed to east flow will diminish Tuesday night. High clouds associated with a weak upper level shortwave should reach the Olympics this afternoon with increasing clouds moving inland overnight.
The weak upper level shortwave should dampen the upper level ridge on Wednesday but only amount to a few sprinkles for the Olympics and northwest Cascades with a mix of mid and high clouds elsewhere. Skies should generally clear Wednesday afternoon and night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Tuesday |
Mostly sunny with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. Warming trend. |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain or snow. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Partly cloudy becoming mostly clear overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Tuesday |
Mostly sunny except for areas of low clouds near the Cascade Passes and sheltered valleys. Multiple freezing levels due to temperature inversions and easterly flow. Breezy Cascades Passes and ridge-lines in the central and south Cascades exposed to east winds. |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Increasing high clouds overnight. Chance of very light rain or snow north Cascades late tonight. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Partly cloudy becoming mostly clear overnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Tuesday Morning |
Mostly sunny except for areas of low clouds sheltered valleys. |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning |
Mostly clear in the afternoon, increasing high clouds overnight. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Mostly clear. Slow warming trend. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day |
Mostly sunny. Multiple freezing levels due to temperature inversions and easterly flow. Breezy in areas exposed to east winds. |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Morning |
Mostly clear in the afternoon. Increasing high clouds overnight. Multiple freezing levels due to temperature inversions and easterly flow. Slow warming trend. |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Partly cloudy becoming mostly clear overnight. |
Issued: 7:47 AM PST Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 8500' | 6000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 7000' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | Freezing Level * | 6500' | 6000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Freezing Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | Freezing Level * | 6500' | 6500' | 5500' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' (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
| Wednesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 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 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
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: 7:47 AM PST Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | SE 5 - 15 | E 0 - 10 | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | E 0 - 10 | ESE 10 - 25 | --- - | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 | S 0 - 10 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | S 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | SE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | E 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | E 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | SE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | E 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | E 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning - Tuesday Mid-day | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
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 Morning | NE 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | N 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | --- - |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | --- - |
| Wednesday - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | N 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday Night | SW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday - 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.
Issued: 7:47 AM PST Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
The ridge should rebuild along the coast Wednesday night and Thursday with another bump in freezing levels across the PNW. Forecast models are in good agreement that the next Pacific frontal system will impact the area Friday night. This system looks to blow through the area quickly Friday night with showers quickly decreasing during the day on Saturday. Snow levels should start out on the mild side and come down to around 4000 feet by Saturday morning.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Partly to mostly clear. Mild.
Increasing mid and high clouds. Chance of light rain and snow Olympics Friday afternoon.
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming light to moderate showers.
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the morning decreasing in the afternoon with partial clearing. Cooler.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday - Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 7500' - 8500' | 8000' - 9000' | 9500' - 10500' | |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Friday Night - Saturday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
* 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 Feb 22, 2016
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.