Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Thursday
A mostly weak front and slightly splitting upper trough moved across the Northwest on Wednesday. But the NWAC station at Mt Baker had 11 inches of new snow on Thursday morning. Other NWAC stations along the Cascade west slopes above the Pass levels had 2-5 inches.
A warm front also brushed mainly the Olympics and north Cascades on Thursday morning.
A minor upper ridge will cross the Northwest and weak surface high pressure will weakly and temporarily build north over the Northwest on Thursday.
Southwest flow will then rapidly carry a front across the Northwest Thursday night.
A slight break in showers is indicated following the front Friday morning.
An upper trough will move to the Northwest on Friday but with the main flow, moisture and trailing portion of the front sinking south to California. But renewed showers should be seen over the Olympics and Cascades on Friday afternoon.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
Thursday Morning - Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy. Increasing light rain or snow in the late afternoon. |
Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds and increasing moderate occasional heavy rain or snow. Increasing moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Morning |
Mostly light showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Afternoon |
Renewed mostly moderate showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Night |
Decreasing light showers. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly cloudy north. Partly cloudy central. Partly sunny south. |
Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds and increasing moderate occasional heavy rain or snow. Increasing moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Morning |
Mostly light showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Afternoon |
Renewed moderate occasional heavy showers heaviest on the volcanoes. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Night |
Decreasing light showers. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Thursday Afternoon |
Partly sunny north part. Mostly sunny south part. |
Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds and increasing light to moderate rain or snow. Increasing moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Morning |
Mostly light showers mainly higher elevations. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Afternoon |
Renewed light to moderate showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Night |
Decreasing light showers higher elevations. |
Mt. Hood Area
Thursday Afternoon |
Mostly sunny. |
Thursday Night |
Increasing clouds and increasing moderate occasional heavy rain or snow. Increasing moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Morning |
Mostly light showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Afternoon |
Renewed moderate occasional heavy showers. Moderate alpine winds. |
Friday Night |
Decreasing light showers. |
Issued: 1:41 PM PDT Thursday, March 23, 2017
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5000' |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 3000' | ' | ' | 4000' | ' | 5000' |
Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | ' | ' | 4500' | ' | 5000' |
Friday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3500' |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
Washington Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
Leavenworth | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Stevens Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
Thursday Night - Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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
Thursday | Thursday | |
---|---|---|
Hurricane Ridge | 0 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.00 |
Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.75 |
Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
Crystal Mt | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
Paradise | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 0.50 |
Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
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: 1:41 PM PDT Thursday, March 23, 2017
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 10 - 20 | --- - | SSE 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 | SSE 20 - 30 | SSE 20 - 30 | --- - | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | --- - | SW 20 - 30 |
Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 25 - 35 |
Thursday Night | SSE 25 - 35 |
Friday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSE 10 - 20 |
Thursday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
Friday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
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 Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | --- - | SSW 30 - 45 |
Thursday Night | SSW 40 - 60 | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 40 - 60 | --- - | SSW 40 - 60 |
Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 30 - 45 | --- - | SSW 35 - 50 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 45 | --- - | SW 30 - 45 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 40 - 60 |
Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
Thursday Night | SSW 40 - 60 |
Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
Thursday Night | SSW 30 - 45 |
Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSW 20 - 30 |
Thursday Night | SSW 40 - 60 |
Friday Morning | SSW 30 - 45 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
Friday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | --- - |
Thursday Night | --- - |
Friday Morning | --- - |
Friday Afternoon | --- - |
Friday Night | --- - |
Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
---|---|
Thursday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 45 |
Thursday Night | SSW 40 - 60 |
Friday Morning | SSW 35 - 50 |
Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 45 |
Friday Night | SW 40 - 60 |
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: 1:41 PM PDT Thursday, March 23, 2017
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
A shortwave ridge and surface high pressure will move across the Northwest on Saturday. This will cause light showers seen mainly over the Cascade west slopes to decrease and end on Saturday.
An upper trough and front will dig from over the Northwest coastal waters SSE to California on Sunday and Monday. Therefore the main flow aloft and main precipitation should stay offshore and head to California during that period.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades, Mt Hood
Light showers mainly over the west slopes of the Cascades decreasing and ending.
Increasing clouds in the morning especially Olympics and south Cascades. Increasing light rain or snow in the afternoon and evening mainly Olympics and south Cascades.
Mostly light showers mainly Olympics and south Cascades.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday Morning - Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' - 4000' | 200' - 4000' | 3000' - 5000' | |
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 5000' | 3000' - 5000' | 4000' - 6000' |
Mt. Baker | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday Morning - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' - 4000' |
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday Morning - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 200' - 4000' |
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
Mt. Hood | Elevation |
---|---|
Saturday Morning - Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
Sunday Afternoon - Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 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 Mar 23, 2017
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.