Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Friday
A shortwave trough has passed east of the Cascades, bringing a cool airmass which is very weakly unstable. Cumulus clouds will remain banked up against the west slopes of the Cascades this afternoon where isolated snow shower is possible, but most precipitation has ended. East of the Cascade Crest, skies are clearing.
A growing ridge Friday through Friday night will become a large-scale and high-amplitude feature on Saturday, sliding slightly eastward, with a high amplitude trough deepening south of Alaska.
The freezing levels will be above crest level by Saturday afternoon. A very weak shortwave will pass over the top of the ridge Saturday night with little influence on the overall trend of ridge amplification and fair, unseasonably warm weather trending warmer as the weekend progresses. Easterly flow will prevail throughout this period with moderate winds through the passes.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Partly cloudy. |
| Friday Night | Becoming mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with a warming trend. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly clear with a few passing clouds possible. Warming trend continues. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of isolated snow flurries. |
| Friday Night | Becoming mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with a warming trend. Light to moderate easterly flow developing. Warming trend. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly clear with a chance of a few passing clouds. Easterly flow through the passes. Continued warming trend. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Cloudy in the morning with a chance of light snow in convergence, becoming partly cloudy by afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear and cold. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny. Moderate east winds. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly clear. Moderate east winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Light snow showers decreasing in the morning. Becoming mostly cloudy during the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with a few clouds. Major warming trend. |
| Saturday Night | Mostly clear. Warming trend. |
Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, March 9, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 0' | ' | ' | 1000' | ' | 2000' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 2500' | 1500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Morning | Freezing Level * | 2500' | 1500' | 1000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 2500' | 2000' | 1500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 4000' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level * | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 2000' | ' | 4000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing 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
| 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 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 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 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 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: 2:05 PM PST Friday, March 9, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | ESE 0 - 10 | --- - | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 | ESE 10 - 20 | E 10 - 20 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 20 | ESE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | E 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | E 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | E 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | --- - | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | --- - | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | --- - | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 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: 2:05 PM PST Friday, March 9, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
On Sunday and Sunday night, the ridge and offshore trough will further amplify. Very warm temperatures are expected across the forecast region.
A significant difference in temperature will develop across the Cascades on Sunday night with temperatures up to 10 F colder east of the Cascade Crest driving moderate easterly flow.
On Monday, an open trough approaches the Pacific Northwest as the ridge slowly moves east.
On Monday night, precipitation enters our coastal waters.
On Tuesday, warm but generally light rain and high elevation snow will arrive on a cooling trend with southerly flow.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | 7500' - 8500' | |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 7500' - 8500' | 7500' - 8500' | 8000' - 9000' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 8000' - 9000' | 8000' - 9000' | 8000' - 9000' | |
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 7500' - 8500' | 7500' - 8500' | 7500' - 8500' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 4500' - 6500' | 4000' - 6000' | 4000' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4000' - 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 9, 2018
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.