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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 1:56 PM PST Saturday, January 11, 2020
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday

The snowy weather pattern continues for Saturday night and Sunday in the mountains. You could see a brief break in the action in some location Saturday evening, but expect precipitation to ramp back up after midnight. Initially, the snow will focus on the western side of the Cascades and Passes. As the associated low-pressure responsible for the precipitation moves over the area Sunday, we should see precipitation spillover into areas east of the Cascade Crest. You'll find the stormiest conditions Saturday night and Sunday around Mt Hood and the southern Washington volcanoes. Expect moderate to strong winds and potentially heavy snowfall in these locations. The weather models show a Puget Sound Convergence Zone forming late Sunday near the Stevens Pass and Mountain Loop areas. If this pattern forms, you could see locally heavier snowfall in some areas. 

Snow should turn to snow showers Sunday night as drier and much colder air seeps in from the north. Snow levels will bottom-out near sea level in most areas and stay there for several days. There should be sufficient leftover moisture to keep showers pilling up snow particularly from Mt Rainier through Mt Hood. Scattered showers will linger into Monday with many locations finding partly cloudy skies and sun breaks. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy. Snow showers increasing.
Cloudy. Snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Cloudy. Snow showers. Winds increasing after midnight.
Snow turning to snow showers. Winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers.
Mostly cloudy. Snow increasing around midday. Heaviest near the Cascade crest. Light to moderate southerly winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Snow, heaviest at Snoqualmie Pass. Light westerly pass winds becoming south.
Snow. Convergence zone near Stevens in the afternoon/evening with locally heavy precipitation. Light westerly pass winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy. Snow and snow showers. Heaviest around the volcanoes. Moderate westerly winds decreasing.
Snow and snow showers. Heaviest near the volcanoes. Moderate westerly winds.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Stormy. Snow. Strong westerly winds decreasing.
Stormy. Snow. Strong westerly winds increasing.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening Snow Level 2000' 1500' 500' 1000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2000' 1000' 0' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1000' 1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 1000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
0'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.75 LT 0.25 0
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 1.50 0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 1.00 1.50 0.75 - 1.00 0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.75 - 1.00
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75 - 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 1.50
Sunday Night 0.75 - 1.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 35 - 45
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 W 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening W 35 - 45
Saturday Night W 25 - 35
Sunday Morning W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 35 - 45
Saturday Night W 25 - 35
Sunday Morning W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40

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
Saturday Evening WNW 20 - 30 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 40 - 55 W 50 - 65
Saturday Night W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 WNW 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 45 - 60
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35 SW 15 - 25 WSW 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 45 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Night W 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 25 - 35
Saturday Night W 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 35 - 45
Saturday Night WNW 35 - 45
Sunday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 40 - 55
Saturday Night W 35 - 45
Sunday Morning W 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 50 - 65
Saturday Night W 45 - 60
Sunday Morning W 45 - 60
Sunday Afternoon W 45 - 60

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday

We appear to stay in the icebox through the long term period. Snow levels should remain near sea level with any precipitation falling as snow. This time period looks drier, with only a few scattered showers ringing out modest snow accumulations mainly in the southern half of the forecast region. A well-developed storm system appears to approach the Pacific Northwest late Wednesday, however, the weather models struggle to agree on the track and strength of this storm. Keep an eye on how this system develops over the next several days. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 500' *
Tuesday Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 Jan. 10, 2020

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