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 Thursday night through Saturday
An atmospheric river continues to impact the Pacific Northwest, delivering impressive water amounts from roughly the Mt. Loop Highway and south to Mt St Helens. Significant precipitation for the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood has been the easy part of the forecast. A warm frontal boundary cutting through the central Puget Sound region (winds are out of the North in the north sound, south in the south Sound as of 2 pm) shifted a bit further south this morning and dragged snow levels down to 3000-4500' across most of the Washington Cascades.
The warm front is currently shifting back to the north this afternoon. It's hard to believe given the oscillating snow levels over the last 36 hrs, but snow levels should briefly bump up from Hwy 2 and along the south Washington Cascades through early this evening. Snow levels should dip once again late this evening as the cold front equivalent shifts the axis of the heaviest precipitation to the south overnight. The moisture tap will start to turn off later tonight and precipitation rates should become much lighter during the morning hours. Strong to extreme west winds from I-90 and south to Mt. Hood will continue through Friday morning.
We won't benefit from much of a break, as a quickly deepening low pressure system tracking north of Vancouver Island renews precipitation across the area in the form of another warm front by Friday afternoon. Winds will increase for the Olympics and Mt. Baker late in the day. A strong cold front is poised to pass through the Cascades between 7-10pm Friday evening, with colder air filtering in behind the front. Post-frontal snow showers should be the most intense along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood late Friday night through Saturday morning, delivering light to moderate amounts of snow.
An upper level ridge amplifying offshore around 140W will turn the flow aloft northerly by Saturday afternoon. The orographic enhancement of westerly flow will begin to shut off, and showers should become lighter and more scattered by the afternoon.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing late. |
| Friday | Periods of light rain and snow, increasing late in the afternoon. Winds increasing late. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow decreasing late. |
| Friday | Periods of light rain and snow, increasing late in the afternoon. Winds increasing late. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow decreasing late. |
| Friday | Periods of light rain and snow, increasing late in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Strong winds, especially the Snoqualmie corridor. |
| Friday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow early becoming light by mid-day. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Strong winds. |
| Friday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow early becoming light by mid-day. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Moderate rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds. |
| Friday | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Strong to extreme winds. |
Issued: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, February 6, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 6000' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 4500' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 5000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 5000' | 5000' | 6000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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
| Thursday Night | Friday | Friday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 2.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 2.00 | 0.50 | 1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.75 - 1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 2.00 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 2.00 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
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: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, February 6, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 10 - 20 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 | S 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 | NW 55 - 65 | NW 55 - 65 | NW 60 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 40 - 50 | WNW 50 - 60 | WNW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 40 - 50 | WNW 50 - 60 | WNW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 45 | W 40 - 50 | W 40 - 50 | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | NW 55 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | NW 55 - 65 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Morning | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | NW 60 - 70 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 60 - 70 |
| Friday Morning | WNW 60 - 70 |
| Friday 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: 2:01 PM PST Thursday, February 6, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Monday
The upper-level ridge will be the dominant weather feature through the extended period. Cool and dry conditions are expected Sunday and Sunday night. The cloud forecast is tricky, there will likely be periods of high clouds floating down over the ridge, especially Sunday night and Monday. As the ridge shifts closer to the coast on Monday, warmer air will begin to move in aloft and may result in temperature inversions by Monday afternoon. For those looking ahead and wondering about less stormy times, the weather pattern at least through the end of the week looks much quieter compared to anything we've seen since the beginning of the year.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 2500' | 5000' - 6000' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3500' - 4500' | 6000' - 7000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 6000' - 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 Feb. 6, 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.