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 Tuesday night through Thursday
Orographic showers are quickly winding down this afternoon for the Washington Cascades and Olympics with more moderate showers hanging on down near Mt. Hood. This relative drying trend will continue as a shortwave upper level ridge slides over the area tonight and largely shuts off lingering shower activity.
A quick moving frontal system will spread warm frontal moisture over the region tomorrow with the cold front passing through the Cascades around mid-day. The system should bring a surge of warm air for Mt. Hood and the south Washington Cascades mid-morning through mid-day Wednesday while the central and northern Washington Cascades will see more subtle warming. The speed of this system will limit precipitation totals with showers quickly winding down Wednesday evening.
We are in for what amounts to an extended dry period these days from roughly Wednesday night through much of Thursday. The next Pacific frontal system will spread warm frontal precipitation to the Olympics and north Cascades late in the day as snow levels begin an extended climb.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers tapering off overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow increasing and becoming light to moderate through mid-day. Rain and snow becoming showers late. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers tapering off overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow increasing and becoming moderate through mid-afternoon. Rain and snow becoming showers late. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers near the Cascade crest tapering off overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain developing in the morning and becoming light to occasionally moderate in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers tapering off overnight. Light east winds at Pass level increasing overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow increasing during the morning and becoming light to moderate through mid-afternoon. Rain and snow becoming showers late. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level becoming west in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and showers tapering off overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow increasing during the morning and becoming light to moderate through mid-afternoon, locally lighter Crystal area. Rain and snow becoming showers late. Warming trend peaking late morning. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday Night | Mostly cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain and showers tapering off overnight. |
| Wednesday | Light rain and snow increasing during the morning and becoming light to moderate through mid-afternoon. Rain and snow becoming showers late. Warming trend peaking mid-day. |
Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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' | 3000' | 3000' | 5000' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 6500' |
| Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 4500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level | 4000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 5500' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 5000' | 2500' | 2500' | 4000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 6500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 6000' | 5000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 5500' | 6500' | 7500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
* 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 Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 1.00 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 1.00 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.75 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 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: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 20 - 30 | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | S 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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 Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 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.
Issued: 2:09 PM PST Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Saturday
The jet stream will set up to our north, aimed at central B.C. later this week. This will allow warmer air to flood the region over the extended with pulses of moisture along a potential atmospheric river mainly affecting B.C., the north Cascades and the Olympics beginning Thursday night. There's lower confidence how far south the fire hose will point, but conditions should be mild throughout the forecast area. Although it's several days out, the cold front is forecast to sweep through the area on Saturday with snow levels plummeting during the daylight hours and very windy conditions developing.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 7000' - 8000' | 8000' - 9000' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 6500' - 7500' | 6500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 5500' - 6500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 4000' - 6000' | 4500' - 6500' | 5000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 5000' - 7000' |
* 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. 28, 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.