Issued: 7:18 AM PST Saturday, January 11, 2014
by Dennis D'Amico

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 & Saturday

A strong front is crossing the Cascades this morning with rapid cooling taking place during the morning hours. Heavy rain and snow with the frontal band will turn to showers later this morning.  The air mass is unstable behind the front with a few thunderstorms offshore.  After a bit of lull in shower intensity through mid-day...a secondary feature...the trough axis will swing through and should re-invigorate precipitation rates this afternoon and this evening. Orographic showers will continue in northwest flow Saturday night through Sunday morning.  After a moderate cool-down later this morning...further cooling will occur Saturday night.   Expect strong winds through the short term...with southwest flow veering to west-northwest later today and overnight. 

However, low snow levels will not last long as warm frontal precipitation extending from a low pressure system in the NE Paciifc begins to over run the area on Sunday.  Steady light rain and snow with gradually rising snow levels are expected Sunday afternoon and evening. Moderate to heavy rain and snow should being to ease late Sunday night from south to north across the area.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood Area
Saturday Morning

Moderate to heavy rain and snow turning to moderate showers.  Strong winds and sharp cooling through the morning.  
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night

Moderate rain and snow showers becoming occasionally heavy during the afternoon and evening.   Windy. 
Sunday Morning

Light to moderate rain and snow showers. 
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening

Moderate rain and snow increasing to moderate to heavy in the afternoon.  Strong winds and a warming trend. 
Sunday Night

Light rain and snow, except moderate rain and snow north Cascades.  Continued windy. 
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Morning

Moderate rain and snow turning to light to moderate showers.  Strong winds and sharp cooling through the morning.  
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming occasionally moderate to  heavy during the afternoon and evening.   Windy. 
Sunday Morning

Light rain and snow showers. 
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening

Light rain and snow increasing to moderate to heavy in the afternoon.  Strong winds and a warming trend. 
Sunday Night

Light rain and snow, except moderate rain and snow northeast Cascades near the Cascade crest.  Continued windy. 

Issued: 7:18 AM PST Saturday, January 11, 2014

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level 4000' ' ' ' ' 4000' ' 5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' ' ' ' ' 3000' ' 3500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' ' ' ' ' 2000' ' 3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' ' ' ' ' 4000' ' 5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 5000' ' ' ' ' 4000' ' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Saturday Saturday
Hurricane Ridge 0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass 0 - 1.00 0 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.50 - 2.00 0 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50
Mission Ridge 0 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 - 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Paradise 0 - 2.50 0 - 1.50
White Pass 0 - 1.50 0 - 1.00
Mt Hood Meadows 1.50 - 2.00 0 - 1.00
Timberline 0 - 2.50 1.00 - 1.50

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: 7:18 AM PST Saturday, January 11, 2014

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60 --- - SW 40 - 60 --- - SW 50 - 70
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening W 35 - 50 --- - SW 35 - 50 --- - W 45 - 60
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 30 - 40 --- - W 25 - 35 --- - W 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening WSW 35 - 50 --- - W 40 - 50 --- - W 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 25 - 35 --- - W 35 - 45 --- - W 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening W 35 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Night W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening SW 35 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening W 40 - 50
Sunday Night W 35 - 45
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 50 - 70
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening W 45 - 60
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening W 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening W 35 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Sunday Night W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 60
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening SW 35 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening W 40 - 50
Sunday Night W 35 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 50 - 70
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Evening W 45 - 60
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening W 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 20 - 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
Saturday Morning --- - --- - SW 70 - 90 --- - SW 80 - 100
Saturday Afternoon --- - --- - WSW 50 - 70 --- - W 60 - 80
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- - --- - NW 40 - 60 --- - WNW 45 - 65
Sunday Afternoon --- - --- - WNW 45 - 60 --- - NW 50 - 70
Sunday Night --- - --- - WNW 55 - 75 --- - WNW 45 - 65
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 70 - 90
Saturday Afternoon WSW 50 - 70
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning NW 40 - 60
Sunday Afternoon WNW 45 - 60
Sunday Night WNW 55 - 75
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 80 - 100
Saturday Afternoon W 60 - 80
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning WNW 45 - 65
Sunday Afternoon NW 50 - 70
Sunday Night WNW 45 - 65

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: 7:18 AM PST Saturday, January 11, 2014

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

Snow levels should remain moderate on Monday, with warm frontal precipitation brushing mainly the central Cascades to the Canadian border.  As the upper level ridge rebounds not far offshore...moisture will be shunted further north of the border. The drying and warming trend will continue Monday night. 

Tuesday and Wednesday look warm and dry with the upper level ridge in control along the Pacific coast. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Monday

Light rain and snow tapering down during the day, heaviest north Cascades.  Continued windy.  

Monday Night - Tuesday Morning

Becoming mostly cloudy with light rain and snow ending from south to north overnight.  

Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday

Mostly clear and mild.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday - Tuesday Morning Snow Level ' - ' 3500' - 4500' 4500' - 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Freezing Level ' - ' 8000' - 10000' 9000' - 11000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
' - '
Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Freezing Level
' - '
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Freezing Level
8000' - 10000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday - Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500' - 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon - Wednesday Freezing Level
9000' - 11000'

* 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 Jan 7, 2014

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