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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 7:02 AM PST Tuesday, January 28, 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 Tuesday & Wednesday

A strong frontal system passed through the area last night with 10-20 inches of snow accumulating along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. A trailing shortwave trough is driving a secondary frontal feature through the Puget Sound and into the Cascades this morning with an organized band of steady and moderate precipitation. After the shortwave trough's passage later this morning, orographic showers will continue through the afternoon. The best post-frontal dynamics are to the south, affecting the far south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood with the heaviest precipitation numbers through this afternoon. Snow levels should bump up slightly in the afternoon after the trough's passage. 

Shortwave ridging will quickly move over the area tonight as showers taper down over the area. Another quick moving frontal system will spread warm frontal moisture over the region tomorrow. The system looks like it will bring a surge of warm air for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades mid-day Wednesday through the afternoon with steadier snow levels for areas further north. The cold front should have reached the Olympics by late afternoon Wednesday. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Light to moderate rain and snow showers becoming lighter mid-afternoon with a few sunbreaks possible.
Mt. Baker
Light to moderate rain and snow this morning, then light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers beginning late morning through the afternoon.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers this morning becoming mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Moderate rain and snow this morning, then light to moderate rain and snow showers beginning late morning through the afternoon. Moderate east flow at Pass level becoming variable in the afternoon.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Moderate rain and snow this morning, then light to moderate rain and snow showers beginning late morning through the afternoon. Sunbreaks possible in the afternoon Crystal area.
Mt. Hood
Moderate rain and snow this morning, then moderate rain and snow showers beginning late morning through the afternoon. Strong winds.

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* 4000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 4000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 5000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level* 4500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 5000' 3500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'

* 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 0.50 LT 0.10 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 LT 0.10 0.75 - 1.00
Stevens Pass 0.50 LT 0.10 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Crystal Mt 0.25 0 0.25
Paradise 0.75 LT 0.10 0.75
White Pass 0.50 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.75
LT 0.25 0 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.75 - 1.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.75
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.75
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening S 5 - 15 S 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 SW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSW 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening S 5 - 15
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening S 0 - 10
Tuesday Night S 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening W 15 - 25
Tuesday Night W 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening S 5 - 15
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening S 0 - 10
Tuesday Night S 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening W 15 - 25
Tuesday Night W 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 45 - 55
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Evening W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 WNW 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 NW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SW 35 - 45 SW 25 - 35 W 40 - 50 W 35 - 45 WNW 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening W 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening W 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 40 - 50
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night W 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning W 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 45 - 55
Tuesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Evening NW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night NW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning WNW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 50

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. 27, 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.