Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Wednesday
The storms keep coming...
A strong frontal system moves into the Pacific Northwest with a band of heavy precipitation. This should arrive with relatively cool air in place across our mountains, providing us with a round of heavy snow across the Pacific Northwest this evening and into the overnight hours. Winds should be strong at Crest Level and generally moderate at 5000 ft, with the Crest Level winds aimed from I-90 south to Mt. Hood. As the frontal system approaches it's raising snow levels in some areas, but with easterly winds easterly through the Passes and a low pressure offshore maintaining the E flow even after the front passes, these winds are likely to keep Snoqualmie Pass cool enough for Snow with changeover to rain difficult to pin down either in the early morning or late morning hours on Tuesday. Many areas will see more than 1" of SWE overnight, but as the detached and filling low follows an upper trough into Washington State during the day on Tuesday, precipitation should decrease more in the north than where the westerly flow is stronger in the southern WA Cascades and Mt. Hood areas.
A weak shortwave ridge will move into the region Tuesday evening, cutting down on rain and snow shower activity with some partial clearing skies possible before the clouds increase ahead of a frontal system arriving with a warming trend, likely bringing a modest round of precipitation with snow to start, but a transition to rain for most ski area bases west of the Cascade Crest by the end of the day.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Monday Night | Moderate rain and snow in the evening then light rain and snow showers with heavier precipitation at times. Moderate winds gusting strong at 5000 ft in the evening, then becoming light. Warming in the early evening hours. |
| Tuesday | Decreasing light rain and snow showers. Lowering snow levels. |
Mt. Baker
| Monday Night | Heavy snow. Moderate 5000 ft winds gusting strong. |
| Tuesday | Moderate to heavy snow showers in the morning decreasing or ending in the afternoon. Snow level rising slowly. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Monday Night | Heavy snow decreasing to moderate by the early morning hours. Moderate winds at 5000 ft stronger in the central Cascades than in the north. |
| Tuesday | Generally light snow showers heavier further south and decreasing from north to south throughout the day. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Monday Night | Stormy with heavy snow at Snoqualmie Pass. Moderate snow at Stevens Pass. Moderate winds gusting strong. Moderate E winds decreasing through the Passes. Significant snow accumulations expected. |
| Tuesday | Light rain and snow showers becoming steadier and slightly heavier in the afternoon. Snow level likely hovering just above Snoqualmie Pass level. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Monday Night | Very stormy with heavy rain and snow. Strong to very strong alpine winds. Gradual warming trend. |
| Tuesday | Heavy rain and snow continue at Paradise with light rain and snow showers at Crystal and moderate rain and snow showers at White Pass. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Heavy rain and snow. Strong to very strong alpine winds. |
| Tuesday | Heavy rain and snow. Gradual cooling trend. |
Issued: 2:18 PM PST Monday, January 27, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | Snow Level* | 4000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 5000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level* | 4000' | 2500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 4000' | 5000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level* | 3000' | 3000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 1000' | 1500' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level* | 3500' | 2000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level* | 4500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (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
| Monday Night | Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.50 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.75 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.00 | 0.25 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.50 - 2.00 | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | 0.75 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 | 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | 1.00 | 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Leavenworth | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.50 - 2.00 |
| Tuesday | 1.00 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.75 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 1.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 1.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:18 PM PST Monday, January 27, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 | E 15 - 25 | ESE 20 - 30 | S 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SSW 5 - 15 | S 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | S 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | E 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | E 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | S 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 30 - 45 | SW 25 - 35 | SSW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Monday Night | SW 30 - 45 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 50 - 65 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 40 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 30 - 45 |
| Monday Night | SW 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Monday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Monday Night | WSW 50 - 65 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 40 - 55 |
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.
Issued: 2:18 PM PST Monday, January 27, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Friday
We remain on the warm side of the storm track for the west of the week. A weak system may brush southern parts of the forecast area bringing rain and high elevation snow to the southern Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area. A stronger system aims at Washington State Thursday night and Friday and taps into subtropical moisture to become an atmospheric river by late Friday. Both the GFS and Euro begin to bump this moisture northward with some west coast ridging by late Friday as the precipitation intensifies, so it remains to be seen whether the heaviest rain and snow mostly hit southern British Columbia or our region. Suffice it to say, it will be very wet, with high snow levels likely up to 7000-9000 ft.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 5500' - 6500' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 5000' | 6000' - 7500' | * |
| Friday | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' | 7500' - 8500' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | None' - None' | None' - None' | None' - None' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 6000' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level None' - None' |
* 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. 27, 2020
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