130 PM PST SUN FEB 10 2008 WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY A reduced west flow is now being seen over the Northeast Pacific Ocean compared to the last few days. Computer models on Sunday morning apparently indicate a bit less precipitation for Sunday than previous runs. A weak cold front should move over the Northwest on Sunday. This should cause mostly moderate amounts of precipitation near and west of the crest with lowering snow levels. Moderate west flow, minor instability and weak convergence should cause showers mainly near and west of the crest Sunday afternoon and evening. A shortwave ridge should move from over the Northwest coastal waters Monday morning to over the Northwest Monday night. Some warm front moisture should move over the ridge Monday and affect mainly the Olympics and north Cascades. This should cause moderate increasing precipitation Monday mainly in the Olympics and north Cascades with a rise in snow levels. The warm front moisture and therefore precipitation should decrease Monday night. WEATHER FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY * OLYMPICS- Sunday afternoon and evening: Light to moderate rain or snow showers. Sunday night: Light snow showers. Monday: Increasing moderate rain or snow. Monday night: Decreasing light to moderate rain or snow. * WASHINGTON CASCADES NEAR AND WEST OF THE CREST- * CASCADE PASSES, INCLUDING STEVENS, SNOQUALMIE AND WHITE PASSES- Sunday afternoon and evening: Light to moderate rain or snow showers. Sunday night: Light snow showers. Monday: Increasing light to moderate rain or snow heaviest north Cascades. Monday night: Decreasing light rain or snow heaviest north Cascades. * EAST SLOPES WASHINGTON CASCADES- Sunday afternoon and evening: Light rain or snow showers mainly higher elevations. Sunday night: Occasional light snow showers mainly higher elevations. Monday: Increasing light to moderate rain or snow heaviest north part. Monday night: Decreasing light rain or snow heaviest north part. * MT HOOD AREA- Sunday afternoon and evening: Light rain or snow showers. Sunday night: Light snow showers ending. Monday: Increasing light rain or snow. Monday night: Partly or mostly cloudy. SNOW LEVELS-CASCADE MTNS 4000 ft N, 5000 ft S Sun morn 3000 ft N, 4000 ft S Sun aft 2000 ft N, 3000 ft S Sun night and Mon morn 3000 ft N, 4000 ft C, 6000 ft S Mon aft 4000 ft N, 5000 ft C, 7000 ft S Tue morn SNOW LEVELS-OLYMPIC MTNS 3500 ft S Sun morn 2500 ft S Sun aft to Mon morn 4500 ft Mon aft 6000 ft Tue morn 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 MON TUE * HURRICANE RIDGE .5 .5-.75 * MT BAKER .5 .75-1 * WASHINGTON PASS .5 .25-.5 * STEVENS PASS .5 .5 * SNOQUALMIE PASS .75 .5 * MISSION RIDGE LT .25 LT .25 * CRYSTAL MTN .25-.5 .25 * PARADISE .5-.75 .25-.5 * WHITE PASS .5 .25 * MT HOOD .5 .25 WINDS IN MILES PER HOUR (MPH) * CASCADE PASS LEVEL WINDS W 5-15 Sun morn W 10-20 Sun aft and eve W 5-15 Mon morn Light variable Mon aft and eve * FREE WINDS AT 5000 FT W 25-35 Sun morn W 35-45 Sun aft and eve W 15-25 Mon morn W 10-20 Mon aft and eve * FREE WINDS AT 9000 FT W 35-45 Sun morn W 55-65 Sun aft and eve WNW 35-45 Mon morn NW 30-40 Mon aft and eve EXTENDED WEATHER SYNOPSIS FOR TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY The ridge should move to the east and increasing southwest flow aloft should carry a fairly strong cold front across the Northwest on Tuesday. This should result in increasing precipitation Tuesday with lowering snow levels. An upper trough and cooler unstable air mass should cross the Northwest on Tuesday night. This should cause orographic snow showers with possible convergence effects enhancing the snowfall in the central Cascades. Another larger ridge should move over the Northwest Wednesday and Thursday. This should result in some fair weather most of Wednesday and Thursday. EXTENDED FORECAST FOR TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY Tuesday: Increasing rain or snow becoming moderate to heavy midday. Tuesday night: Moderate to heavy orographic snow showers. Wednesday: Light snow showers near and west of the crest ending in the morning with partial clearing. Wednesday night and Thursday: Partly cloudy. * SNOW LEVELS Lowering to 2-3000 ft N, 35-4500 ft S Tue 1-2000 ft N, 15-3500 ft S Wed FREEZING LEVEL Rising to 2-4000 ft N, 6-8000 ft S Thu