Mountain Weather Forecast
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Sunday
A powerful frontal system brings the final act of a potent atmospheric river event. As the front approaches, locations in the water hose have been receiving significantly more water than the forecast models predicted. The front should move SE today and has been slightly slower than anticipated, but it should continue to progress through the region, bringing heavy rain and snow with gradually lowering snow levels (in the 5000-6000 ft range) as it approaches with rapidly lowering snow levels behind it, bringing snow down to near sea level in many locations by this evening. 1-2" of snow water equivalent are expected from 4 AM to 4 PM on Saturday for Mt. Baker, Snoqualmie, Stevens, and White Passes, and also Mt. Hood. Most areas should see significantly more rain than snow, but Mt. Hood may be closer to a 50/50 split. Post-frontal snow shower activity should feature moderate convergence, which is likely to focus toward Snoqualmie Pass and may increase snowfall amounts there vs. the 1-3" amounts we expect at 3000-4000 ft on the west slopes of the Cascades. Expect higher snowfall amounts at higher elevations where snow starts earlier.
Strong to extreme SW winds should switch westerly with the frontal passage and decrease, although they will sustain longer through the mountain gaps and on higher ridges E of the Cascade Crest, and particularly Mt. Hood.
Light snow shower activity should continue across the west slopes of the Cascades with snow levels between 0-1000 ft tonight and after a bit of a break Sunday morning some light snowfall should pick up late morning on Sunday on the coast (the Olympics) with a weak shortwave trough. Snow levels will stay very low.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday | Moderate to heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to snow showers as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Decreasing moderate ridge-top winds with strong gusts. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to snow showers as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Decreasing moderate to strong 5000 ft winds with very strong to extreme gusts, decreasing to the light tomoderate range in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday | Moderate to heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to snow showers as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Strong crest-level winds in the morning, gradually decreasing in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to light to moderate snow showers and convergence bands as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Snoqualmie Pass level should change over to snow between 10 AM and noon. Decreasing moderate to strong winds through the Passes in the morning with decreasing strong to very strong winds at 5000 ft. Light to moderate winds through the Passes and moderate winds at 5000 ft in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to snow showers as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Precipitation heaviest at Paradise and White Passes. Strong to extreme Crest-level winds decreasing. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow early in the morning, changing to snow showers by late morning as snow levels plummet throughout the day. Very strong to extreme alpine winds decreasing. |
Issued: 7:13 AM PST Saturday, February 1, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
* 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
| Saturday | Saturday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 1.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 1.00 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 2.00 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 2.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 2.00 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.00 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 2.00 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 2.00 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 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: 7:13 AM PST Saturday, February 1, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 60 - 80 | WSW 55 - 75 | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 | W 35 - 50 | W 40 - 60 | W 40 - 55 | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Evening | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Jan. 31, 2020
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