Issued: 2:04 PM PDT Sunday, March 19, 2017
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 Sunday & Saturday

Cool upper level troughing is over the area today but sunshine, a rarity this winter, has come out in force this afternoon as isolated morning showers have ended. There is still some daytime cumulus over most mountain locations, with the exception of the north Cascades where slightly more moisture and cloud cover is hanging tough. 

Northerly surface gradients on Sunday will become offshore easterly gradients on Monday as high pressure builds east of the Cascades. A moderate easterly breeze should be seen in the Cascade Passes and down around Mt. Hood later tonight through Monday. A weak system off the California coast will rotate up bands of light precipitation on Monday. The low levels will be quite dry such that the main affect for the Washington Cascades will be increasing high clouds from the south through the day with slightly lowering ceilings while light precipitation develops for Mt. Hood in the afternoon. Light bands of rain and snow should develop for all areas Monday night.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny. 

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Mostly clear with increasing high clouds late overnight. 

Monday Afternoon

Cloudy with a chance of very light rain and snow. 

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny, except partly sunny northwest Cascades. 

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Mostly clear with increasing high clouds south part overnight. 

Monday Afternoon

Cloudy with a chance of very light rain and snow far south Washington Cascades. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny except partly sunny northeast Cascades. 

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Mostly clear with increasing high clouds south part overnight. 

Monday Afternoon

Cloudy with a chance of very light rain and snow far southeast Washington Cascades. 

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday Afternoon

Mostly sunny. 

Sunday Night

Becoming cloudy overnight. 

Monday

Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing during the day. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level 3500' 3500' 4000' ' ' 4000' ' 5500'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 3500' 2500' 1000' ' ' 2000' ' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
'
Monday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night Snow 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

Saturday Saturday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 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 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 --- - E 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 10 - 20 --- - E 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night E 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night E 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning E 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night ESE 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
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 --- - SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning S 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning S 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night S 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Morning S 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night S 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night S 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon - Monday Night SW 15 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

An upper level trough offshore will slowly slide toward the West Coast Tuesday and Tuesday night sending a series of frontal bands through the region. Precipitation looks to be on the lighter side with southerly flow aloft that should favor the volcanoes during this period. Post-frontal showers on Wednesday and Wednesday night should bring some light snow accumulations as snow levels lower during the day. Weak upper level ridging will build over the area on Thursday but incoming clouds and moisture should already be spreading inland from the coast by the afternoon. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area
Tuesday - Tuesday Night

Cloudy with light rain and snow at times. 

Wednesday

Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Slight cooling trend. 

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. 

Thursday

Cloudy with light rain and snow developing Olympics and northwest Cascades. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level 5000' - 6000' 5000' - 6000' 5500' - 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'

* 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 19, 2017

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