Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
An open trough and weakening comma-shaped surface/upper low sit off the Washington Coast on Thursday morning. The low will track NE to Cape Flattery by around noon, bringing moderate rain and snow to the mountains. Most locations in the Cascades will see 1-2 inches of water out of this storm
Moderate free air winds (and stronger gusts) will be out of the south today, switching to SW after 4PM when the front crosses the Cascades, then westerly as a secondary upper trough swings through from the NW around 1 AM. Temperatures will drop sharply behind the front and most locations will change back to snow as precipitation intensities are decreasing.
Snoqualmie at pass level should see a changeover to rain in the late morning or early afternoon with a changeover back to Snow between 2 and 4 AM on Friday. The majority of the precipitation here will fall as rain. Stevens Pass should only see a brief period of rain during the evening hours. Mt. Baker base is likely to have rain mixing with snow while the top of the mountain stays Snow throughout the event.
On Thursday night, precipitation should decrease behind the front. In the early morning hours, a convergence zone is likely to develop in the Stevens Pass vicinity and could push as far south as Snoqualmie. Snow shower activity will be light Friday and will taper off. Temperatures will be cool.
On Friday night, skies will becoming mostly clear as high pressure builds over the region.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Thursday | Periods of light rain and snow. |
| Thursday Night | Light rain and snow changing to all snow after midnight. Moderate westerly winds after midnight. |
| Friday | Cold in the morning with snow showers ending early; otherwise partly cloudy. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Thursday | Moderate rain and snow. Moderate easterly winds in the passes. Moderate (gusting to strong) southerly winds. |
| Thursday Night | Moderate rain and snow in the evening, changing to light to moderate snow showers after midnight, heaviest in convergence near Stevens Pass. Moderate SW winds switching to westerly after midnight. |
| Friday | Light snow showers, decreasing. Otherwise mostly cloudy skies. |
| Friday Night | Partly cloudy with ESE winds developing after midnight. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Thursday | Light to moderate rain and snow. Moderate easterly winds in the passes. Moderate (gusting to strong) southerly winds. |
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow in the evening, changing to light snow showers after midnight, heaviest in convergence near Stevens Pass. Moderate SW winds switching to westerly after midnight. |
| Friday | Light snow showers near the Cascade Crest, decreasing. Otherwise partly sunny skies. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Moderate rain and snow. Strong S-SW winds. |
| Thursday Night | Moderate rain and snow along with strong SW winds becoming light snow showers in the early morning hours with moderate to strong W-SW winds. |
| Friday | Rapidly decreasing light snow showers in the morning and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate westerly winds. |
| Friday Night | Clear skies with rising freezing levels and light winds. |
Issued: 9:54 AM PST Thursday, March 8, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 2000' | 2000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
* 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 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 - 2.00 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.50 | 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: 9:54 AM PST Thursday, March 8, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 15 - 25 | ESE 30 - 40 | --- - | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | SSE 15 - 25 | S 30 - 40 | --- - | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | ESE 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | ESE 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 | S 20 - 30 | SSW 65 - 85 | --- - | SW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 50 | SSW 45 - 65 | SW 55 - 75 | --- - | SW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 40 - 60 | WSW 50 - 70 | --- - | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 35 - 50 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | WNW 15 - 25 | WNW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 45 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 55 - 75 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Morning | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 65 - 85 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 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.
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Previous forecast from Mar 8, 2018
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