Issued: 7:47 AM PST Wednesday, March 7, 2018
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Thursday

Upper level ridging over the area will lead to one more dry day in the Pacific Northwest, however high clouds streaming up from the south will quickly create high overcast conditions for all areas by late morning to mid-day. Cold temperatures seen early this morning along the east slopes of the Cascades will rise with the rest of the area this afternoon. 

A low pressure system off the northern California coast will track northeast later tonight spreading very light rain and snow over the area with the initial frontal band. The air mass over our region is quite dry, so this first wave of moisture will do little other than bring cloud ceilings and snow levels down overnight. 

After a lull in the early morning, the real action should get started by late Thursday morning as the low pressure system tracks to north of the Olympic Peninsula and into southern B.C by late afternoon. Winds will ramp up quickly, especially in the alpine ahead of the frontal boundary that will pass through the Cascades late Thursday afternoon. The Olympics and the Washington Cascades should see stormy conditions develop. Easterly flow through the Cascade Passes will initially keep snow levels suppressed through mid-day, but snow levels should settle into the 4000-4500 ft range from mid-day through the evening. 

Behind the front, post-frontal showers, windy conditions and a cooling trend should ensue Thursday night as the trailing longwave trough approaches the coastline.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Wednesday Mostly clear becoming cloudy late this morning or mid-day with high clouds. Mild.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing. Clouds lowering.
Thursday Light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly. Slight warming trend.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Wednesday Mostly clear north, mostly cloudy south with high clouds. Becoming cloudy all areas with high clouds today. Mild.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow in the morning becoming moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly, especially in the alpine. Slight warming trend.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Wednesday Mostly clear northeast, mostly cloudy southeast with high clouds. Becoming cloudy all areas with high clouds today. Mild.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Winds increasing rapidly, especially in the alpine. Slight warming trend.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Overcast with high clouds. Mild.
Wednesday Night Cloudy with very light rain and snow developing after midnight. Clouds lowering.
Thursday Periods of light rain and snow. Winds increasing rapidly.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level 6000' 3500' 0' ' ' 3000' ' 5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level 7500' 6500' 6000' ' ' 7000' ' 8000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level * 4500' 4000' 2500' ' ' 3000' ' 5000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 3000' ' ' 3000' ' 5500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4500' ' 5500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
0'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Thursday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4500'

* 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 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 1.50 - 2.00
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 - 0.75
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0.75 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 - 1.00
Paradise LT 0.10 1.50 - 2.00
White Pass LT 0.10 0.75 - 1.00
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0 - 1.00
LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 --- - SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 E 5 - 15 --- - SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 15 - 25 SE 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20 --- - S 5 - 15
Thursday Morning S 30 - 45 SE 30 - 40 SE 20 - 30 --- - SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 SSE 25 - 35 S 20 - 35 --- - SW 40 - 50
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 15 - 25
Thursday Morning S 30 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon S 20 - 35
Thursday Night SW 25 - 40
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Thursday Night SW 30 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Wednesday Night S 15 - 25
Thursday Morning S 30 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SE 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon SSE 25 - 35
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon S 20 - 35
Thursday Night SW 25 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Night S 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Thursday Night SW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 30 --- - SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30 --- - S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SSW 15 - 30 S 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30 --- - S 25 - 35
Thursday Morning S 35 - 45 SW 20 - 30 SW 40 - 50 --- - SW 45 - 55
Thursday Afternoon SSW 40 - 50 SSW 30 - 40 SW 55 - 70 --- - SW 60 - 70
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night SSW 15 - 30
Thursday Morning S 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon SSW 40 - 50
Thursday Night SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night S 15 - 25
Thursday Morning SW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Thursday Night SW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 15 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning SW 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon SW 55 - 70
Thursday Night SW 45 - 55
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Thursday Morning --- -
Thursday Afternoon --- -
Thursday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night S 25 - 35
Thursday Morning SW 45 - 55
Thursday Afternoon SW 60 - 70
Thursday Night SW 45 - 55

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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Mar 6, 2018

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