300 PM PST SAT FEB 9 2008 WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Freezing levels have continued to rise overnight and early Saturday with precipitation gradually diminishing in the wake of a warm frontal passage Friday night. The forecast area is between the warm front that has past and a cold front approaching the coast Saturday afternoon. This places Washington and northern Oregon in the warm air sector under a transitory short wave ridge that is providing some sunshine in the south. Moderate westerly flow is still maintaining some generally light precipitation along the west slopes mainly in the north Saturday afternoon. Freezing levels should remain relatively flat through Saturday night. Precipitation should increase Saturday evening in the Olympics and Saturday night in the Cascades along with increasing southwest crest level winds. The cold frontal passage is expected to cross the Olympics and Cascades early Sunday morning causing a period of moderate to heavy precipitation. Freezing levels lower dramatically later Sunday morning behind the front. Increasing strong westerly flow and an incoming short wave disturbance Sunday afternoon should maintain moderate to heavy precipitation at further lowering freezing levels through Sunday evening. A gradually rebuilding upper ridge offshore should allow for decreasing precipitation and winds Sunday night. WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY * OLYMPICS- Saturday aft and eve: Increasing light rain or snow. Saturday night: Increasing moderate to heavy rain or snow. Sunday morning: Moderate to heavy rain or snow becoming mostly snow. Sunday afternoon and evening: Moderate snow showers. Sunday night: Decreasing light snow showers. * WASHINGTON CASCADES NEAR AND WEST OF THE CREST- * CASCADE PASSES, INCLUDING STEVENS, SNOQUALMIE AND WHITE PASSES- Saturday aft and eve: Occasional light rain or snow in the north. Cloudy central part and partly sunny south. Saturday night: Increasing moderate rain or snow after midnight. Sunday morning: Moderate to heavy rain or snow becoming mostly snow late morning. Sunday afternoon and evening: Moderate snow showers. Sunday night: Decreasing light snow showers. * EAST SLOPES WASHINGTON CASCADES- Saturday afternoon and evening: Partly cloudy. Saturday night: Increasing light to moderate rain or snow after midnight. Sunday morning: Light to moderate rain or snow becoming mostly snow late morning. Sunday afternoon and evening: Light snow showers. Sunday night: Snow showers ending. * MT HOOD AREA- Saturday afternoon and evening: Partly cloudy. Saturday night: Increasing light to moderate rain or snow late. Sunday morning: Moderate to heavy rain or snow becoming mostly snow late morning. Sunday afternoon and evening: Moderate snow showers. Sunday night: Decreasing light snow showers. SNOW LEVELS-CASCADE MTNS 4500 ft N, 5000 ft S Sat aft and eve 4000 ft N, 4000 ft C, 5000 ft S Sat night 3500 ft N, 4000 ft C, 5000 ft S early Sun morn 2500 ft N and C, 3500 ft S late Sun morn 2000 ft N, 3000 ft S Sun aft and night SNOW LEVELS-OLYMPIC MTNS 4500 ft Sat aft and night 3000 ft Sun morn 2000 ft Sun aft and 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 .5 .75 * MT BAKER .5-.75 1 * WASHINGTON PASS .25-.5 .5-.75 * STEVENS PASS .5-.75 .75-1 * SNOQUALMIE PASS .5-.75 1 * MISSION RIDGE LT .25 .25 * CRYSTAL MTN .5 .5-.75 * PARADISE .5-.75 .75-1 * WHITE PASS .5 .75 * MT HOOD .5 .75 WINDS IN MILES PER HOUR (MPH) * CASCADE PASS LEVEL WINDS W 5-15 Sat aft and night W 10-20 Sun morn W 15-25 Sun aft and night * FREE WINDS AT 5000 FT SW 20-30 N, SW 15-25 S Sat aft S-SW 30-40 Sat night SW 30-40 Sun morn W 35-50 Sun aft W 15-25 N, W 30-40 S Sun night * FREE WINDS AT 9000 FT W-SW 30-40 Sat aft and night W-SW 40-60 Sun W-NW 25-40 Sun night EXTENDED WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Light snow showers should decrease early Monday as a ridge of high pressure moves across the area. A warm front offshore should just brush the Olympics and north Washington Cascades later Monday causing a period of light precipitation with other areas remaining cloudy. The next front should bring renewed precipitation at slightly rising freezing levels ahead of the front early Tuesday. The cold front should move across the Cascades Tuesday morning followed by decreasing orographic showers at lowering freezing levels. Drier northwest flow should build into the region Wednesday to cause an end to showers and gradual clearing remaining cool with light winds. EXTENDED FORECAST FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY Monday: Cloudy with occasional light snow mainly Olympics and north part late. Monday night: Increasing light to moderate rain or snow late. Tuesday morning: Moderate to heavy rain or snow. Tuesday aft and night: Decreasing light snow showers. Wednesday: Showers ending with partial clearing. * SNOW LEVELS 1-2000 ft N, 2-3000 ft S early Mon 3-4500 ft N, 45-6000 ft S late Mon and early Tue 1-3000 ft N, 15-3500 ft S late Tue 1-2500 ft N and S Wed