Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Sunday
A low pressure system travelling along a frontal boundary passed through Vancouver, BC early this morning. Precipitation started as snow at most locations and changed to rain overnight. The Cascade Passes, specifically the top of Alpental and Stevens Pass picked up 6+ inches thanks to late-winter easterly flow locally suppressing snow levels in the central Cascade Passes. Rain has been particularly heavy for areas along the west slopes of the Cascades outside of the Cascade Passes including Mt. Rainier, Crystal and Mt. Baker. Mt. Baker picked up an amazing 0.51 inches of water (rain) in 1 hour overnight with winds gusting to 80 mph!
The good news is that snow levels will drop rapidly as a seasonally cool upper level trough quickly moves into the area this afternoon. Showers and the best chance for post-frontal snow accumulations should be focused into the Mt. Baker area and in a Puget Sound Convergence Zone which will likely setup in Snohomish County affecting mainly the Stevens Pass area. There could be a few breaks of sun late this afternoon as the air mass is drying aloft.
Showers will taper off overnight. The west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics will keep more low level cloud cover and a chance of showers through Sunday morning. A clearing trend Sunday afternoon should bring about some welcome sunshine with cool snow/freezing levels. Dry weather should continue Sunday night.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Saturday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow, occasionally heavy outside the Cascade Passes. Windy. Mild. |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light to locally moderate rain and snow showers. Highest accumulations likely near Puget Sound Convergence zone and Mt. Baker area. Rapid cooling trend. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Colder. |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
Olympics
| Saturday |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Rapid cooling trend. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Colder. |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Saturday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Windy. Mild. |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Colder. |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Saturday Morning |
Light to moderate rain and snow. Windy. Mild. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. Rapid cooling trend. |
| Saturday Night |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Colder. |
| Sunday - Sunday Night |
Partly to mostly clear. |
Issued: 7:38 AM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2017
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 * | 5000' | 6500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 7000' |
| Saturday Mid-day | Snow Level | 4000' | 2500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 0' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Mid-day |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
* 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
| Sunday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | 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: 7:38 AM PDT Saturday, March 18, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 15 - 30 | S 30 - 40 | SSW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 | W 15 - 30 | WSW 20 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | E 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 | E 5 - 15 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | E 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | E 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | E 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 50 - 60 | SW 50 - 60 | SW 60 - 70 | --- - | SW 65 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 45 - 55 | --- - | WSW 55 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 25 - 35 | W 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | --- - | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 50 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SW 65 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Mar 14, 2017
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