Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Friday
A ridge of high pressure will slowly shift east across western Washington and Oregon today. Surface high pressure east of the Cascades along with a weak front offshore has helped pump up offshore flow this morning. Strong east winds at Snoqualmie Pass and mid-mountain on Mt. Hood will slowly ease off today. Moderate easterly winds seen at ridgetop level near and west of the Cascade crest should back off as well this afternoon. Free air freezing levels are quite warm this morning; around 10000 feet on 5 am soundings, and this warmer air should work deeper into the west slopes and Mt. Hood today. Freezing levels will still be muted somewhat locally near the Cascade Passes, but should be warmer relative to Thursday.
The weak front will spread some high clouds over the area today but will mostly wash out overnight with only some very light precipitation possible through early Saturday morning. The front should increase cloud cover along mainly the west slopes tonight. The upper level flow will turn more southwesterly on Saturday. Some drips and drabs of light rain and snow at mild snow levels are possible through Saturday night rotating up from the south, particularly for the Olympic peninsula. Partly sunny skies will be a better bet along the east slopes Saturday.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine and high clouds. Warming trend most pronounced west of the Cascade Passes. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow possible. Occasional sunbreaks Saturday. Mild. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming partly sunny in the afternoon with filtered sunshine and high clouds. Slow warming trend. |
| Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow possible. Mild |
| Friday Night - Saturday |
Partly cloudy. |
Olympics
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Mostly clear in the morning becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with filtered sunshine and high clouds. Warming trend. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Mild. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Partly sunny with periods of filtered sunshine and high clouds. Warming trend. |
| Friday Night - Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with periods of very light rain and snow possible. Occasional sunbreaks Saturday. Mild. |
Issued: 7:36 AM PDT Friday, March 18, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | Freezing Level * | 8500' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 8500' | 7000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8000' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level * | 7500' | 7000' | 4500' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Saturday - Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 6500' | 6500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday - Saturday 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 0.25 |
| 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: 7:36 AM PDT Friday, March 18, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 30 | --- - | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | S 5 - 15 | SE 0 - 10 | ESE 5 - 15 | --- - | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 | SE 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | --- - | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | E 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 15 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | ESE 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 15 - 25 | --- - | S 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night - Saturday | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 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: 7:36 AM PDT Friday, March 18, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
An occluded front will rotate up from the south on Sunday, with light to moderate precipitation developing in the afternoon over Mt. Hood and spreading northward.
Post-frontal showers on Monday should increase in the afternoon with an unstable air mass over the area. Skies look to remain cloudy with a deep layer of moisture in place. Snow levels will slowly lower late Sunday night and into Monday.
The parent upper level low associated with this frontal system will drift over the Columbia River Gorge later Monday night with leftover showers in N-NW flow aloft on Tuesday.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing in the afternoon. Mild.
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow becoming showers overnight. Slow cooling trend.
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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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