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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 7:06 AM PST Friday, January 24, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday

The longwave trough associated with the seemingly never-ending stream of moisture that has affected our area over the last 36 hours will sweep through later this morning. Showers may take a bit of break mid-day but a trailing disturbance should reinvigorate shower activity for the Olympics and west slopes of the Washington Cascades later this afternoon. The Mt. Baker area will continue to experience locally heavier precipitation compared to the rest of the region. Snow levels will be slow to lower from 4500-5000' this morning to 4000-4500' this afternoon as cooler air trickles into the region. 

Weak upper level ridging will pass over the area tonight as we take a brief pause from widespread precipitation and winds. A quick-moving frontal band will approach the coast on Saturday morning and pass through the Cascades late morning/mid-day. While this front is moving too quickly to bring copious amounts of moisture, there does seem to be a brief but intense 3 hr period of precipitation focused north of the I-90 corridor along the west slopes of the Cascades. Snow levels are a bit tricky as well with a short period of easterly flow dragging snow levels down to Pass level for the Snoqualmie, Stevens and White Passes in the morning before rising in the afternoon. Snow levels should once again settle in the 4000-5000' range Saturday afternoon with light post-frontal shower activity.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend.
Mt. Baker
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Strong winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the crest.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Variable winds at Pass level becoming west in the afternoon. Moderate to strong west winds at ridgetop.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend.
Mt. Hood
Light rain and snow showers. Slow cooling trend. Strong winds decreasing in the afternoon.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Snow Level 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 5000' 4500' 5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Friday Night Snow Level 4000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level* 4500' 3500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 5000' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening S 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Friday Night S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SE 0 - 10 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SE 5 - 15 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening S 10 - 20
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 5 - 15
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Friday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night SW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening S 10 - 20
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 5 - 15
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Friday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night SW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 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
Friday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 35 - 45 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 WSW 35 - 45 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 35 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 40 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Evening SW 15 - 25
Friday Night SW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 35 - 45
Friday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30
Friday Night SW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night SW 35 - 45
Saturday Morning SW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35

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. 23, 2020

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