Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
PM Update: No changes
An upper level ridge will build offshore today delivering a dry and mostly sunny day. Freezing levels will be on the rise Thursday, but warming will be muted by cool easterly flow for the Cascades. Broad surface high pressure over British Columbia/Alberta will slide south and spread into eastern Washington later today and overnight increasing offshore flow. Ridgetop winds for the central and southern Cascades and Cascade Passes will be breezy out of the east through Friday morning.
High clouds will spread over the area Friday from the west and the slow warming trend should pick up steam as cool easterly flow weakens. A weak front will wash out over the Cascades Friday night potentially bringing some light and spotty precipitation.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| 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. |
| Friday |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. Slow warming trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with spotty light rain or snow. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly sunny during the day and mostly clear at night. |
| Friday |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds late in the afternoon. Slow warming trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with spotty light rain or snow. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Thursday - Thursday Night |
Mostly sunny during the day and mostly clear at night. Light to moderate easterly mid-mountain winds developing Thursday afternoon and continuing overnight. |
| Friday |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with increasing high clouds in the afternoon. Slow warming trend. |
| Friday Night |
Mostly cloudy with spotty light rain or snow. |
Issued: 1:13 PM PDT Thursday, March 17, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 5000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 6000' |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | Freezing Level * | 7000' | 3000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | Snow Level * | 8000' | 6000' | 5000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night |
Snow Level 8000' (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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: 1:13 PM PDT Thursday, March 17, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | ESE 15 - 25 | --- - | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 | E 0 - 10 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | ESE 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | NNE 15 - 25 | NNE 0 - 10 | N 10 - 20 | --- - | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | NE 5 - 15 | NE 0 - 10 | NE 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | NNE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | NE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | NNE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | N 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | NE 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Afternoon | N 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night - Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday 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: 1:13 PM PDT Thursday, March 17, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
On Saturday, the upper level ridge will try to rebuild over central Washington with SW flow aloft over the region. Freezing levels will continue their slow rise as warm air continues to move into the region. Most forecast models are dry Saturday, but again light and spotty precipitation will be possible in this pattern with a fair amount of cloud cover likely.
Forecast models continue to differ on the timing of the next Pacific frontal system. Look for generally increasing moisture and clouds Saturday night and Sunday, with cloud bases lowering even along the east slopes of the Cascades. An occluded front will pass through sometime Sunday afternoon or evening with light to moderate precipitation. Snow levels will start off mild initially on Sunday and slowly lower through Monday as colder air moves in aloft. The parent upper level low offshore will migrate closer to the PNW on Monday, keeping showers and deep moisture directed into the region. The air mass should be unstable with generally weak S-SW flow aloft.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Partly to mostly cloudy Olympics, west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Partly to mostly sunny east slopes. Warming trend Saturday.
Mostly cloudy with increasing and lowering cloud bases with a chance of light rain or snow.
Light rain or snow developing and becoming light to moderate Sunday night. Cooling trend late Sunday night.
Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Saturday Night - Sunday | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday |
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 17, 2016
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