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 & Monday
PM Update: No changes
Light and scattered showers this morning along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood in cool Northwest flow aloft will gradually wind down during the day. Warming aloft will help cap moisture along the west slopes, so expect partial lifting of cloud bases and afternoon sunbreaks but not a wholesale clearing trend. Along the east slopes, sunshine should dominate today.
A upper level ridge will build offshore Thursday and deliver, gasp, a dry and mostly sunny day. Freezing levels will be on the rise Thursday, but will be muted by cool easterly flow for the Cascades. Ridgetop winds for the central and southern Cascades will be breezy out of the east through Thursday night.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night |
Becoming mostly clear. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly sunny during the day and mostly clear at night. Light to moderate easterly ridgetop and Pass winds developing Thursday afternoon and overnight. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Partly to mostly sunny. |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Night |
Mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Partly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Wednesday Night |
Becoming mostly clear. |
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly sunny during the day and mostly clear at night. Moderate easterly winds mid-mountain developing Thursday afternoon and overnight. |
Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 3000' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 4500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level * | 7500' | 4500' | 500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (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
| Monday | Monday | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 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: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | NE 0 - 10 | --- - | NE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | ESE 15 - 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 25 - 35 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 20 - 30 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | N 10 - 20 | --- - | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | N 0 - 10 | NNE 5 - 15 | N 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | N 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | --- - |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 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.
Issued: 2:42 PM PDT Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday
High clouds will spread over the area Friday along with a slow warming trend. A weak front will wash out over the Cascades Friday night bringing some light precipitation.
On Saturday, the upper level ridge will try to rebuild over a central Washington with SW flow aloft over the region. Moisture with low-level onshore flow should keep a mostly cloudy forecast along the west slopes of the Cascades Saturday. Freezing levels will continue their slow rise as warm air moves into the region.
Forecast models disagree on the timing of the next Pacific frontal system. The current GFS model has increasing clouds on Sunday with meaningful precipitation holding off until Sunday night while the European model develops precipitation earlier in the day. With either solution, snow levels begin on the mild side.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Becoming cloudy in the afternoon with increasing high clouds. Slow warming trend.
Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers.
Partly to mostly cloudy Olympics, west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Partly to mostly sunny east slopes. Warming trend Saturday.
Becoming cloudy with light rain and snow potentially developing in the afternoon. Mild.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Freezing Level | 6000' - 7000' | 5000' - 6000' | 7000' - 8000' | * |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Saturday Afternoon - Sunday | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Sunday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon - Sunday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Saturday 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 16, 2016
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