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 & Friday
The Pacific Northwest is in weak northerly flow aloft and a split pattern over the west coast should make for a quiet weather weekend. Just enough instability will be around today for mountain showers through this evening. Clearing should take place overnight as light snow shower coverage diminishes.
A upper level shortwave in northwest flow should reach the Olympic peninsula and the north Cascades by Sunday afternoon. A general increase in mountain clouds and light snow showers is expected for the Olympics and Washington Cascades in the afternoon and Mt. Hood in the evening. Light snow showers should continue overnight.
Climate note: January 2014 freezing levels averaged even warmer than December 2013...with Forks (Washington Coast), Salem (Oregon) and Spokane (eastern WA) averaging roughly 7900, 8500, and 5500 feet respectively.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Saturday Morning - Saturday Evening |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Partly to mostly clear. |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light snow showers. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Saturday Morning - Saturday Evening |
Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Afternoon |
Mostly clear becoming partly cloudy a few snow showers in the afternoon. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light snow showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Saturday Morning - Saturday Evening |
Partly cloudy with isolated light snow showers mainly near the crest. |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Mostly clear except for mostly cloudy lower slopes. |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night |
Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with light snow showers. |
Issued: 7:12 AM PST Saturday, February 1, 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 | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | Snow Level * | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level * | 500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (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: 7:12 AM PST Saturday, February 1, 2014
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | NNE 10 - 20 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | NNE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Night | NNE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night - Sunday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
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 | --- - | --- - | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | --- - | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | --- - | --- - | W 10 - 20 | --- - | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | --- - | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Sunday | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | NW 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: 7:12 AM PST Saturday, February 1, 2014
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Strong high pressure over the Yukon should extend south into British Columbia early next week and push some very cold air into the Pacific Northwest. Snow and freezing levels will be near sea level for much of next week. Forecast models indicate some light upslope snow showers for the east slopes of the Cascades to near the Cascade crest for Monday and Tuesday with a drying trend into Wednesday. Northerly surface gradients should become more easterly on Monday...with easterly flow increasing through the Cascade passes first and then potentially extending up to crest level by Tuesday morning. Brrrrr.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Monday - TuesdayMostly clear except partly to mostly cloudy with light snow showers mainly near and east of the crest. Easterly pass winds increasing Monday through Tuesday. Becoming colder.
Tuesday Night - WednesdayMostly clear with breezy easterly pass winds. Cold.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | * |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday | Freezing Level | ' - ' | 0' - 500' | 0' - 500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level ' - ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Freezing Level ' - ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Freezing Level 0' - 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday - Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night - Wednesday |
Freezing Level 0' - 500' (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.
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 28, 2014
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.