Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
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 early evening. 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 central and south Washington Cascades should see stormy conditions develop Thursday afternoon. Easterly flow through the Cascade Passes will initially keep snow levels suppressed through early afternoon, but snow levels should rise to the 3500-4000 feet by early afternoon with a bump to 4000-4500 in the late afternoon and early 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. There may be a period of heavy showers at Mt. Baker Thursday evening.
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 and peaking mid-day. 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 in the central and south Cascades. Slight warming trend. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers, locally heavy Mt. Baker area in the evening. 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 in the central-east and southeast Cascades. 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 becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Windy. Cooling trend late. |
Issued: 3:45 PM 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 Afternoon | Freezing Level | 7500' | 6500' | 6000' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 8000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5500' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday 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
| 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 - 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: 3:45 PM PST Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 | S 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 | SE 20 - 30 | SE 15 - 30 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SSE 15 - 25 | S 20 - 35 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
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 Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 15 - 30 | S 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | --- - | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | S 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 45 - 60 | --- - | SW 55 - 65 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 50 | SSW 25 - 35 | 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 Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 15 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 55 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | --- - |
| Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Night | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 55 - 65 |
| 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.
Issued: 3:45 PM PST Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
A sharp trough will pass through the Cascades Friday morning. Shower activity behind the trough should become scattered and quickly die down in the afternoon as upper level ridging builds offshore. A convergence zone may develop Friday morning in the Mountain Loop to Stevens Pass vicinity. Strong west winds on the east slopes of the Cascades will accompany the trough's passage in the morning. Snow levels will be much cooler Friday.
Upper level ridging passes inland Friday night with the flow aloft turning S-SW on Saturday. Saturday's forecast looks mostly dry, but an embedded shortwave in the flow will likely bring some cloud cover and the chance of scattered showers between Saturday afternoon and night.
The ridge should retrograde over the West Coast Sunday for a better bet of drier and warmer weather.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
* 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 7, 2018
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