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 & Saturday
A front will sweep through the Pacific Northwest today crossing the Cascades in the early afternoon. Easterly flow should allow wet snow down to Snoqualmie Pass before the frontal passage. Winds should increase rapidly today and stay strong through this evening. Orographic showers will favor the Mt. Baker area in the late afternoon with SW flow behind the frontal passage, but winds will shift and become more westerly Sunday night leading to a potential convergence zone focused on the Mountain Loop Highway. Snow levels should quickly lower Sunday night as well.
A shortwave ridge will build offshore and move over the area Monday with the shower activity quickly decreasing in the morning. Another frontal system will reach the area later Monday night.
Weather Forecast
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing. Locally lower snow levels near the Cascade Passes. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers mid-afternoon. Heaviest precipitation Mt. Baker area. Cooling trend late afternoon. Windy. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler. Possible convergence zone north of Stevens Pass to Mt Loop Highway. |
| Monday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers ending in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow developing Monday night. |
Olympics
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Windy. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Cooling trend. Windy. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. |
| Monday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers ending in the afternoon. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow developing Monday night. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Sunday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Light to moderate rain and snow becoming showers. Windy. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Cooler. |
| Monday |
Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers ending in the afternoon with partial clearing. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow developing Monday night. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Sunday Morning |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing. |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow becoming showers mid-afternoon. Cooling trend late afternoon. Windy. |
| Sunday Night |
Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. |
| Monday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers ending in the afternoon with partial clearing. |
| Monday Night |
Light rain and snow developing Monday night. |
Issued: 7:35 AM PST Sunday, February 28, 2016
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day | Snow Level * | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | ' | ' | 2500' | ' | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level * | 5000' | 3500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level ' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning - Sunday Mid-day |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Monday |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (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
| Saturday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 1.00 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
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: 7:35 AM PST Sunday, February 28, 2016
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 20 - 30 | S 10 - 20 | SSE 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 20 - 30 | S 15 - 25 | SSW 25 - 35 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 35 - 45 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | --- - | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 30 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Mid-day | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Mid-day | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | --- - |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Mid-day | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 40 - 50 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 50 | WSW 45 - 55 | --- - | SW 50 - 65 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 | --- - | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 | --- - | NW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | --- - | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SE 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 45 - 55 |
| Sunday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | --- - |
| Sunday Afternoon | --- - |
| Sunday Night | --- - |
| Monday Morning | --- - |
| Monday Afternoon | --- - |
| Monday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning | SW 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 50 - 65 |
| Sunday Night | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 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.
Issued: 7:35 AM PST Sunday, February 28, 2016
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
The warm front associated with the next frontal system will push north over the area during the day Tuesday with locally heavy precipitation for the Mt. Baker area. Snow levels will be on the rise for the west side of the Cascades Tuesday, but cool easterly flow should keep locally lower snow levels in the Passes. The cold front will pass through late Tuesday afternoon with showers and a cooling trend through Wednesday morning.
The active pattern will continue after a brief break in the weather for much of Wednesday with the next frontal system will moving through Wednesday night.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
TuesdayModerate to occasionally heavy rain and snow changing to showers Tuesday afternoon. Warming trend west slopes, Olympics and Mt. Hood except cooler Cascade Passes and east slopes.
Tuesday NightMostly cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. Cooler. Breezy.
WednesdayPartly to mostly cloudy. Isolated rain and snow showers in the morning.
Wednesday NightCloudy with light rain and snow developing.
ThursdayMostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 4000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' | * |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Wednesday - Thursday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday - Thursday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday - Thursday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday - Thursday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6000' |
* 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 23, 2016
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.