Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Thursday
After beginning the day in the single digits, temperatures have moderated into the teens this afternoon with light snow developing over the region. Crest level winds will increase quickly this afternoon, with westerly winds increasing at all elevations overnight. Despite this initial wave not being particularly moisture-rich, a few inches of low density snow will come easily by this evening.
The trailing upper level trough will provide a more significant bump in precipitation tonight as it crosses the region, with light to moderate snow showers developing after midnight and continuing through Saturday morning. Showers should quickly decrease on Saturday as the trough digs south and east of our area and weak ridging aloft builds upstream, but weak convergence will keep light snow accumulations continuing in the Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass corridor into the afternoon.
Another frontal system will cross the area Saturday night, this one stronger than the previous iteration with snow and especially with winds increasing significantly after midnight as the jet stream takes direct aim at Washington State. A slight warming trend will take place from about Snoqualmie Pass to Mt. Hood during the early morning hours of Sunday before the frontal passage.
In general look for the stormiest conditions to develop after midnight and continue into Sunday morning, especially for the central and south Cascades including Mt. Hood.
Weather Forecast
Olympics
| Friday | Cloudy whit light snow developing this morning. Winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light snow showers increasing after midnight. Windy. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Winds decreasing. |
| Saturday Night | Light snow increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate after midnight. Winds increasing overnight. Slight warming trend overnight. |
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
| Friday | Increasing clouds with bases lowering in the afternoon. Light snow developing north Cascades and spreading south during the day. Crest level winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light snow showers becoming light to moderate after midnight. Windy. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Showers may occasionally be moderate in a Puget Sound Convergence zone between Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass late morning through mid afternoon. Winds decreasing. |
| Saturday Night | Light snow increasing and becoming light to moderate after midnight. Becoming very windy late. Slight warming trend late central and south Cascades. |
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday | Increasing clouds with bases lowering in the afternoon. Light snow developing northeast Cascades and spreading south during the day. Crest level winds increasing in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light snow showers becoming light to occasionally moderate after midnight. Windy. |
| Saturday | Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming mostly cloudy with isolated light snow showers in the afternoon. Winds decreasing. |
| Saturday Night | Light snow increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate after midnight. Becoming very windy late. Slight warming trend late central-east and southeast Cascades. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds during the day and light snow developing late afternoon. Increasing alpine winds in the afternoon. |
| Friday Night | Light snow showers becoming light to moderate after midnight. Windy. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate snow showers through mid-day becoming scattered light snow showers in the afternoon. Windy. |
| Saturday Night | Light snow to occasionally moderate snow. Becoming very windy late. Slight warming trend late. |
Issued: 3:15 PM PST Friday, February 23, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 0' | ' | 500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | ' | ' | 500' | ' | 1000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 1000' | 1000' | ' | ' | 1500' | ' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 0' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level ' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
* 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 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 - 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Timberline | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 - 1.50 |
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: 3:15 PM PST Friday, February 23, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | S 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | --- - | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 40 | --- - | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 | W 0 - 10 | NW 10 - 20 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | --- - | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | W 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 55 | --- - | SW 40 - 50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 35 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 40 - 50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 35 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 40 - 50 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | W 45 - 60 | --- - | NW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 30 - 45 | --- - | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | NW 20 - 35 | --- - | NW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | NW 25 - 35 | --- - | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | --- - | NW 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 65 | WSW 50 - 60 | WSW 60 - 70 | --- - | W 55 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 65 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 50 - 60 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | W 45 - 60 |
| Friday Night | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 20 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 60 - 70 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | --- - |
| Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- - |
| Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Afternoon | NW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Evening | NW 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | W 55 - 65 |
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: 3:15 PM PST Friday, February 23, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The snow continues to stack up this weekend! The frontal system should quickly push through the Cascades early - mid Sunday morning, with the brief warming seen early Sunday morning behind us shortly after daybreak. Post-frontal orographic showers with cool NW flow aloft and onshore flow at the surface will deliver snowfall in the form of showers throughout the day Sunday, with the main energy from the trough and heaviest showers directed into Mt. Hood. Winds will be slower to decrease across the region from north to south Sunday, with westerly winds staying strong in the Mt. Hood area for the entire day. Sunday looks like a stronger case for a Puget Sound Convergence zone to add meaningful accumulations in the Stevens/Snoqualmie Pass corridor.
The broad cold upper level trough will dig offshore Sunday night, taking the main moisture source with it leaving us with scattered light showers. Weak shortwave ridging will build over the region on Monday, with light showers and clouds trapped near and below the Cascade crest. This cool and generally snowy pattern will continue through mid-week although forecast model details diverge. The GFS is suggesting another cool storm in NW flow for Tuesday with good snow-making potential...stay tuned.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | 0' - 0' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
* 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, 2018
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