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
I wish there was a more exciting weather pattern to talk about... but there is not. An upper level ridge axis along the western U.S. coast will deflect an incoming frontal system into British Columbia today. The air mass over the PNW is mild... but the frontal system offshore will keep a high overcast over much of the area. The ridge will weaken a bit tonight and some light rain and snow should develop for the Olympics and north Cascades.
Very light rain and snow may spread south through the Washington Cascades Thursday... or may just produce an increase in mid-level clouds for areas further south. Mt. Hood will likely remain dry during the short term period. Freezing levels will begin to climb Thursday night as the upper level ridge amplifies over eastern Washington.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Wednesday |
Mostly cloudy with mainly a high overcast. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night |
Cloudy with light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades. Mostly cloudy south Washington Cascades. |
| Thursday |
Clouds lowering with periods of light rain and snow, mainly Olympics and north Cascades. Partly to mostly cloudy south Washington Cascades. |
| Thursday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Wednesday |
Mostly cloudy with mainly a high overcast. Mild. |
| Wednesday Night |
Cloudy northeast Cascades. Partly cloudy southeast Washington Cascades. |
| Thursday |
Clouds lowering with periods of light rain and snow, mainly northeast Cascades. Partly to mostly cloudy southeast and central east Washington Cascades. |
| Thursday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Wednesday - Thursday Night |
Partly to mostly cloudy with periods of high clouds. Mild. |
Issued: 1:51 PM PST Wednesday, February 11, 2015
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 | 8500' | 8000' | 7500' | ' | ' | 9000' | ' | 11500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 7000' | 5500' | 5000' | ' | ' | 6000' | ' | 8500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening | Snow Level | 8500' | 6500' | 6500' | ' | ' | 7500' | ' | 8500' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 9500' | 9000' | 8000' | ' | ' | 9500' | ' | 11000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level ' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11500' |
| Wednesday Night - Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Thursday Afternoon - Evening |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 11000' |
* 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 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| 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: 1:51 PM PST Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | SE 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | --- - | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 5 - 15 | SSW 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
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 - Wednesday Night | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 15 - 25 | --- - | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | --- - | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Morning | --- - |
| Thursday Night | --- - |
| Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Afternoon - Wednesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
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: 1:51 PM PST Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Friday should be a mild day with freezing levels peaking during the morning hours. High clouds should increase in the afternoon as a frontal system approaches from the west. This frontal system will temporarily flatten the upper level ridge over the west coast Friday night and Saturday... and bring in a relatively cooler air mass.
Precipitation amounts do not look impressive with this weather system, although the newest runs indicate some moderate precipitation between Stevens and Snoqualmie around a short lived convergence zone Saturday morning. Showers should diminish during the day Saturday, but clouds will likely linger along the west slopes Saturday with onshore flow at the surface keeping low level moisture banked up along the west side. The dominant upper level ridge will return and rebuild offshore on Sunday, leading to NW flow aloft along with a drying and clearing trend for the latter half of the weekend.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood area
FridayMild. Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with increasing high clouds. Light rain and snow possible Olympics and north Cascades late afternoon.
Friday NightCloudy with light rain and snow developing.
Saturday MorningLight rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Saturday AfternoonMostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night - SundayPartly to mostly clear.
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
FridayMild. Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon with increasing high clouds.
Friday NightCloudy with light rain and snow developing near the Cascade crest.
Saturday MorningMostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooler.
Saturday AfternoonPartly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night - SundayMostly clear.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Freezing Level | 9000' - 10000' | 10000' - 11000' | 11000' - 12000' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 7500' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Saturday Night - Sunday | Freezing Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 9000' - 10000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday |
Freezing Level 11000' - 12000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Saturday Night - Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
* 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 Feb 11, 2015
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