Issued: 2:23 PM PST Monday, March 5, 2018
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Monday & Thursday

The Pacific Northwest will stay in cool NW flow aloft with scattered light snow showers and generally cloudy skies today. An area of convergence west of Stevens Pass this morning will break up during the day. There may be a few sunbreaks poking through in the afternoon. Moderate west winds in the Mt. Hood area will slowly decrease this afternoon. 

Flat upper level ridging will move over the area Tuesday, providing us with a dry and fair weather day. Afternoon cumulus buildup looks to be trapped near ridgecrest Tuesday afternoon as warmer air moves in aloft, robbing us of a full day of sunshine. Temperatures will warm slightly on Tuesday. The dry weather will continue Tuesday night. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Monday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers this morning. Mostly cloudy with light isolated showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Tuesday Mostly clear in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny with cumulus building in the afternoon. Slight warming trend.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Monday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers, locally moderate near a convergence zone this morning west of Stevens Pass. Mostly cloudy with light isolated showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Tuesday Mostly clear in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny with cumulus building in the afternoon. Slight warming trend.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Monday Cloudy with isolated light snow showers near the Cascade crest this morning, becoming mostly cloudy with light isolated showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Tuesday Mostly clear in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny with cumulus building in the afternoon near the Cascade Crest. Slight warming trend.
Mt. Hood
Monday Cloudy with scattered light snow showers this morning. Mostly cloudy with light isolated showers in the afternoon. Moderate West winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Tuesday Mostly clear in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny with cumulus building in the afternoon. Slight warming trend.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 1500' 1500' ' ' 2000' ' 3000'
Monday Night Snow Level 1500' 1500' 500' ' ' 1000' ' 2500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 1500' 500' 0' ' ' 1000' ' 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level 3500' 3000' 4000' ' ' 4000' ' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Monday Night Snow Level
'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'

* 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 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10
LT 0.25 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 --- - W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15 --- - W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 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
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 --- - WNW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15 --- - W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Monday Night WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

Broad upper level ridging will build over the interior West Wednesday, but a closed low meandering ever closer to the Oregon/California coastline will begin to spread some mid and high clouds up from the south during the day. Relatively mild freezing levels are expected Wednesday with the main question being how much cloud cover will mute the overall warming trend. The low pressure system will spread light precipitation over the area Wednesday night. 

The closed low weakens as it passes over Washington State Thursday. This should bring some light to occasionally moderate precipitation to the mountains as well as a cooling trend. Showers will continue Thursday night. 

Weak ridging will attempt to build on Friday, but light warm frontal moisture from a system mainly affecting British Columbia may brush the northern half of the Washington Cascades. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Wednesday Mostly clear with increasing clouds during the day. Milder. Light rain and snow developing overnight. Thursday Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Friday Cloudy Olympics, north and central Cascades with periods of light rain and snow. Mostly cloudy south Cascades including Mt. Hood.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' 6000' - 7000' 6500' - 7500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 4000' - 5000'
Thursday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 4000' - 5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'

* 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 5, 2018

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