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
PM Update: Adjusted Day 1 and Day 2 precipitation forecasts and raised Saturday night snow levels.
A broad upper level trough of low pressure in the northeast Pacific continues to rotate low pressure systems up along our coastline towards the British Columbia coast. A front passed through early this morning with generally light rain and snow, except locally heavy at Mt. Baker. Shower activity should quickly ease off later this morning and snow levels will remain mild. High clouds ahead of the next system is beginning to spread over the area from south to north this afternoon.
A disorganized warm front will lift north overnight, with a brief burst of moderate precipitation favoring the volcanoes, southerly slopes including Crystal mountain, and the east slopes. The cold front will swing through in the early morning hours initiating a cooling trend early Sunday morning.
The broad trough will begin to move over the area with a couple of upper level shortwaves swinging through to enhance shower activity Sunday and Sunday night. Additionally, with cold air aloft the air mass will be unstable enough to support a thunderstorm Sunday afternoon. The cooling trend will be slow on Sunday and snow levels will temporarily lower during heavier showers.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Saturday Afternoon |
Mostly sunny with increasing high clouds. Mild. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
| Sunday |
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Saturday Afternoon |
Partly sunny with increasing high clouds. Mild. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest volcanoes and southerly slopes. Windy predominately central and south Cascades. |
| Sunday |
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Saturday Afternoon |
Partly sunny with increasing high clouds. Mild. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Increasing winds overnight. |
| Sunday |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. Cooling trend. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Saturday Afternoon |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing. Winds increasing in the afternoon. Mild. |
| Saturday Night |
Moderate rain and snow in the evening, becoming light to moderate after midnight. Windy. |
| Sunday |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Chance of an afternoon thunderstorm. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
Issued: 2:46 PM PST Saturday, March 5, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 6000' | 6000' | 5500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level * | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6500' | ' | 7000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 5500' | 5500' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 4500' |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 - 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.00 | 0 - 0.75 |
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: 2:46 PM PST Saturday, March 5, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 | E 5 - 15 | SE 15 - 25 | --- - | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 20 - 30 | ESE 10 - 20 | ESE 20 - 35 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 30 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | VAR 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SSE 25 - 35 | --- - | S 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | S 35 - 50 | S 30 - 45 | SW 40 - 55 | --- - | SW 45 - 60 |
| Sunday | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 35 - 50 |
| Sunday | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 30 - 45 |
| Sunday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 40 - 55 |
| Sunday | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Afternoon | S 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 60 |
| Sunday | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
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: 2:46 PM PST Saturday, March 5, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
The longwave trough axis should pass through the PNW on Monday, continuing an unstable profile, slight chance of thunder, and scattered showers.
A splitting front will approach on Tuesday, quickly pushing a shortwave ridge to the east by Tuesday afternoon and reintroducing light rain and snow to the region.
Models disagree on positioning of the heaviest precipitation and timing, but by late Tuesday night and into Wednesday, the GFS indicates a new impulse along the old frontal boundary renewing precipitation across the area with potentially heavier rain and snow over Mt. Hood. The moisture plume may extend north Wednesday night.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slight chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing.
Light to moderate rain and snow, potentially heavy Mt. Hood on Wednesday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Monday Night - Tuesday | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 5500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Monday Night - Tuesday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' - 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.
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 5, 2016
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