Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Wednesday
The Pacific Northwest is under the influence of a modified cold, Canadian high pressure system through the remainder of the week. The cold upper low is parked over interior Western Canada with an associated trough axis lined up over the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday. With cold air streaming over relatively warmer water as the air rotates around the low, it develops some instability and the resultant light snow showers we should experience across the region on Tuesday. These showers may bring 3-6" of low-density snowfall to the central Cascades, Paradise, and White Pass, with 5-10" expected for Mt. Hood. Lesser amounts are expected for other areas.
Tuesday evening, a warm front moves into the region ahead of a developing low 500 miles offshore. The warm front should gradually lift northward, bringing with it a narrow band of moderate snowfall for the Olympics and the central then North Cascades through the morning hours on Wednesday. The E flow ahead of the warm frontal boundary should focus precipitation on the E and N slopes of the Olympics in areas favored by the upslope pattern, where 6-12" of snow may be possible, including for Hurricane Ridge. This frontal band is likely to bring accumulating lowland snowfall from Seattle northward. The "warm" sector of the system should remain cold, but a switch to more southerly flow should cut off shower activity and leave mostly cloudy conditions for the south Cascades and Hood regions Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
The strengthening low should be well developed by Wednesday afternoon as light snowfall increases for Mt. Hood, Paradise, and possibly Hurricane Ridge, late in the day.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Light winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Light winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Weak temperature inversions. Light winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Increasing generally light alpine winds. Increasing light winds through the Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Light winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday | Light snow showers. Cold. Moderate 5000 ft winds. |
Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level* | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level* | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 0' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' (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
| Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 7:11 AM PST Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 | S 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 | SE 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | ESE 5 - 15 | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 | E 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | ESE 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | E 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 | S 15 - 25 | SSW 25 - 35 | SSW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 40 - 60 |
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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Jan. 13, 2020
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.