145 PM PST SAT DEC 29 2007 WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY New gears all gathered for a trip to the pow Got to try it out, like yesterday, like now! But just remember, as you head out the door? Think snowpack, think weather, terrain and more. Plan routes with wisdom, and the utmost of care? For friends dont want searches for you out there. SNOW LEVELS-CASCADE MTNS 500 ft N, 1000 ft C, 2500 ft S Saturday afternoon 500 ft N and C, 2000 ft S Saturday night and Sunday morning 500 ft N and C, 1000 ft S Sunday afternoon 500 ft N and S Sunday night SNOW LEVELS-OLYMPIC MTNS 1000 ft Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon 500 ft Sunday night Cascade Snow/Freezing Levels refer to the northern Washington Cascades (N) through Mt Hood area (S). Central Washington Cascade snow levels (typically near Snoqualmie Pass) are normally midway between indicated N and S levels. Note that surface snow/freezing levels are common near the passes during easterly pass flow and may result in multiple snow/freezing levels. 24 HOUR FORECAST OF PRECIPITATION IN INCHES OF WATER EQUIVALENT ENDING AT 4AM SUN MON * HURRICANE RIDGE .75-1 .75-1 * MT BAKER 1-1-5 1-1.5 * WASHINGTON PASS .75-1 .75-1 * STEVENS PASS 1 1-1.5 * SNOQUALMIE PASS 1 1-1.5 * MISSION RIDGE .25-.5 .25 * CRYSTAL MTN .75 .75 * PARADISE 1-1.5 1.5 * WHITE PASS 1 1 * MT HOOD 1-1.5 1.5 WINDS IN MILES PER HOUR (MPH) * CASCADE PASS LEVEL WINDS Variable 0-10 early Saturday afternoon Variable mostly E 0-10 N, W 10-20 S later Saturday afternoon W 15-25 with higher gusts Saturday night W 20-30 with higher gusts Sunday W 10-20 with occasional higher gusts Sunday night W 5-15 early Monday * FREE WINDS AT 5000 FT S-SW 10-20 N, 15-30 S early Saturday afternoon W-SW 20-40 N, 30-50 S late Saturday afternoon W 30-50 Saturday night and Sunday morning W-NW 25-40 N, 30-45 C and S Sunday afternoon W-NW 15-30 N, 20-35 S Sunday night, decreasing further early Monday * FREE WINDS AT 9000 FT W 15-25 N, 25-40 C, 30-45 S early Saturday afternoon W-SW 20-40 N, 30-50 C, 40-60 S late Saturday afternoon W 40-60 Saturday night and Sunday morning W 30-50 Sunday afternoon, strongest south W-SW 15-30 N, 20-40 S Sunday night EXTENDED WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Following the last upper disturbance in the current series mid-late Sunday, moderate upper ridging offshore should slowly move over the area on Monday, bringing an unusually quiet end to a very stormy December of 2007, a month that has already brought new snowfall accumulations ranging up to 150 to over 200 inches. However, this respite should be very brief, indeed. By New Years Day, a front rotating out of a deep upper trough expected to redevelop in the Gulf of Alaska should slowly edge toward the area, with an associated warm front expected to spread increasing light to moderate rain or snow over the Olympics and north-central Washington Cascades late New Years eve and early New Years Day. With several waves rippling along its back edge, the associated strong cold front is expected to only very slowly move eastward New Years Day. As a result, moderate rain or snow should not reach the Olympics until around mid-day, with moderate rain, snow or local freezing rain very slowly spreading southward in the Cascades Tuesday afternoon and night. Although briefly rising freezing levels are likely, a large cold air dome covering eastern Washington and Oregon and associated strong and cold easterly surface flow across the Cascade passes should insulate these areas from most of the warming aloft, with a briefly decreasing easterly flow possibly allowing some rain or freezing rain to reach the passes early Wednesday. After the front moves through, precipitation should briefly decrease and become more showery Wednesday morning. However, a series of storms expected to rotate out of the deep trough in a moderate to strong southwesterly flow should bring periods of moderate to heavy rain or snow to most areas at moderate freezing levels mid-late Wednesday through the end of the week. EXTENDED FORECAST FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Light to moderate snow or snow showers decreasing early-mid Monday. Partly cloudy mid-late Monday. Increasing clouds Olympics and north-central Cascades late Monday night and early Tuesday with light to occasionally moderate rain or snow developing. Light rain or snow decreasing Tuesday morning, but increasing again Tuesday afternoon Olympics and slowly spreading southward in the Cascades late Tuesday afternoon and night. Moderate rain or snow later Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, decreasing and becoming showery Wednesday afternoon. Rain or snow increasing in the south late Wednesday afternoon spreading northward Wednesday night and early Thursday. * SNOW LEVELS Sea level to 1000 ft N and S early to mid Monday 500 to 1500 ft N, 3-5000 ft S late Monday 4-6000 ft N, 6-8000 ft S early-mid Tuesday 2-4000 ft N, 5-7000 ft S mid-late Tuesday 1-3000 ft N, 2-4000 ft S Wednesday 2-4000 ft N, 3-5000 ft S late Wednesday, except snow levels lowering to the surface Cascade passes and east slopes early-mid Monday, remaining at the surface Tuesday, rising briefly and slightly early Wednesday, but lowering back to near the surface mid-late Wednesday