Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Friday
Upper level ridging over the area will lead to one more dry day in the Pacific Northwest, however high clouds streaming up from the south will quickly create high overcast conditions for all areas by late morning to mid-day. Cold temperatures seen early this morning along the east slopes of the Cascades will rise with the rest of the area this afternoon.
A low pressure system off the northern California coast will track northeast later tonight spreading very light rain and snow over the area with the initial frontal band. The air mass over our region is quite dry, so this first wave of moisture will do little other than bring cloud ceilings and snow levels down overnight.
After a lull in the early morning, the real action should get started by late Thursday morning as the low pressure system tracks to north of the Olympic Peninsula and into southern B.C by late afternoon. Winds will ramp up quickly, especially in the alpine ahead of the frontal boundary that will pass through the Cascades late Thursday afternoon. The Olympics and the Washington Cascades should see stormy conditions develop. Easterly flow through the Cascade Passes will initially keep snow levels suppressed through mid-day, but snow levels should settle into the 4000-4500 ft range from mid-day through the evening.
Behind the front, post-frontal showers, windy conditions and a cooling trend should ensue Thursday night as the trailing longwave trough approaches the coastline.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Wednesday | Mostly clear becoming cloudy late this morning or mid-day with high clouds. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing. Clouds lowering. |
| Thursday | Light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Wednesday | Mostly clear north, mostly cloudy south with high clouds. Becoming cloudy all areas with high clouds today. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering. |
| Thursday | Periods of light rain and snow in the morning becoming moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly, especially in the alpine. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday | Mostly clear northeast, mostly cloudy southeast with high clouds. Becoming cloudy all areas with high clouds today. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering. |
| Thursday | Periods of light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly, especially in the alpine. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Overcast with high clouds. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night | Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering. |
| Thursday | Periods of light rain and snow. Winds increasing rapidly. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
Issued: 7:47 AM PST Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | Freezing Level | 6000' | 3500' | 0' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 7500' | 6500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 5000' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday 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
| Friday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 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: 7:47 AM PST Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | --- - | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 45 | SE 30 - 40 | SE 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | SSE 25 - 35 | S 20 - 35 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 45 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 15 - 30 | S 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | --- - | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 35 - 45 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 50 | SSW 30 - 40 | SW 55 - 70 | --- - | SW 60 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | SW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | S 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 55 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | --- - |
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 45 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 60 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
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.
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Previous forecast from Mar 6, 2018
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