Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Friday
Light rain and snow at moderate snow levels continues to slip under the ever familiar upper level ridge that persists offshore. Light precipitation came a bit further south than expected today, with Snoqualmie Pass the most southern NWAC station to register a few hundredths of an inch. Light rain and snow should continue through this evening. Partly to mostly sunny conditions will continue for the south Washington Cascades to Mt. Hood.
High clouds should increase toward overnight as a weak frontal system located around the central B.C coast sags south. The front will briefly flatten the upper level ridge and spread some light precipitation mainly to the Olympics and north Cascades Monday afternoon and night. Light rain and snow should reach the southern Washington Cascades by late Monday night, with Mt. Hood remaining dry.
Weather Forecast
Olympics and Washington Cascades
| Sunday |
Mostly cloudy with periods of light rain and snow Olympics and north Cascades. Partly cloudy central and southern Washington Cascades. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly cloudy north and partly cloudy central and south with increasing high clouds overnight. |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening |
Light rain and snow developing Olympics and north Cascades Monday afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow spreading to the central and south Washington Cascades. Rain and snow occasionally moderate north Cascades Monday night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday |
Partly to mostly sunny. |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Mostly clear, then becoming mostly cloudy with high clouds after midnight. |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Cloudy. Very light rain and snow possible late Monday night. |
Issued: 2:35 PM PST Sunday, December 29, 2013
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 7000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5000' | ' | 8000' |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 7500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 7000' | ' | 10000' |
| Monday | Snow Level | 5000' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 5500' | ' | 7000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 5500' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level ' |
| Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 10000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
* 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 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| 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: 2:35 PM PST Sunday, December 29, 2013
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | --- - | NW 5 - 15 | --- - | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 | --- - | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 5 - 15 | --- - | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - | --- - | NW 35 - 45 | --- - | NW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - | --- - | NW 20 - 30 | --- - | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - | --- - | W 35 - 50 | --- - | W 30 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | W 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday Night | W 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.
Issued: 2:35 PM PST Sunday, December 29, 2013
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
An upper level feature following on the heels of the weak frontal boundary may deliver a period of moderate to even heavy precipitation by early to mid-morning Tuesday for the west slopes of the Cascades. There is not much cooling with this system, and snow levels look to be rather moderate. A drying trend should ensue Tuesday evening and dry weather should last through Wednesday as the upper level ridge rebuilds offshore.
An open shortwave trough may approach the area on Wednesday night spreading light precipitation inland with light precipitation continuing on Thursday.
Extended Weather
Olympics and Washington Cascades
Tuesday MorningLight to moderate rain and snow, except occasionally heavy west slopes Cascades Tuesday morning.
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday NightLight rain and snow tapering off from north to south Tuesday afternoon and becoming mostly cloudy overnight.
WednesdayPartly to mostly cloudy.
Wednesday Night - ThursdayPeriods of light rain and snow.
Mt. Hood Area
Tuesday MorningCloudy with very light rain and snow possible.
Tuesday Afternoon - Tuesday NightMostly cloudy.
WednesdayPartly cloudy.
Wednesday Night - ThursdayPeriods of light rain and snow.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 3500' - 4500' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Wednesday | Freezing Level | ' - ' | 5500' - 6500' | 8500' - 9500' | |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | ' - ' | 4000' - 5000' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | ' - ' | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level ' - ' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level ' - ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday - Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Thursday |
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 Dec 29, 2013
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.