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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 7:13 AM PST Friday, February 7, 2020
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Saturday

We're in the final stages of a mult-day atmospheric river event. An E-W frontal boundary draped across Washington State should bring decreasing generally moderate precipitation to the Cascades West slopes and Passes should gradually decrease during the day as a perturbation moves east of the Cascades. Alpine winds should be strong to very strong to the south of the frontal boundary, particularly in the Mt. Hood, S. Washington Cascades, and E slopes of the Cascades. The frontal boundary separates the warmer and cooler air with this system. Snow-levels should stay relatively steady today around 3500 ft for the northern Washington Cascades, 4000-45000 ft for the Central Washington Cascades, 5000 ft for the southern Washington Cascades, and 5500-6000 ft for Mt. Hood. 

Late in the day, an approaching cold front should spread increasing rain and snow along to the Olympics and perhaps the Mt. Baker areas as precipitation should generally be light in other areas by that time. Winds should increase in these same areas.

This evening, a sharp cold front passes with winds peaking and moderate to heavy precipitation and snow levels lowering to 3000 ft or lower from 10 PM onwards. Many areas of the west slopes of the Cascades should pick up 10-20 inches of snowfall above 3000 ft with moderate to strong W winds behind the front creating strong orographic through Saturday morning. The upper trough digs in during the day on Saturday and the flow switches gradually more northerly in the afternoon, gradually shutting off the snow shower activity.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Cloudy with increasing light rain and snow in the afternoon. Increasing moderate ridge-level winds.
Mt. Baker
Periods of light rain and snow increasing late in the day.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Moderate rain and snow.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Moderate rain and snow. Increasing light to moderate winds through the passes becoming moderate. Increasing moderate 5000 ft winds becoming moderate to strong late in the day.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Moderate rain and snow at Paradise and White Pass with light rain and snow at Crystal. Moderate 5000 ft winds.
Mt. Hood
Decreasing moderate to heavy rain and snow in the morning becoming light to moderate. Very strong alpine winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Morning Snow Level 5000' 3500' 3000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 5000' 6000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Friday Night Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
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
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday 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

Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0.75 1.50 1.00
White Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 - 1.00 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.25 0.75 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 1.00 1.00
Timberline 0.75 - 1.00 1.00 1.00 - 1.50
LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.25
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.75
Friday Night 1.50
Saturday 1.00
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
Friday Night 0.75 - 1.00
Saturday 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.75
Friday Night 1.00
Saturday 1.00
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.75 - 1.00
Friday Night 1.00
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 25 - 35 S 10 - 20 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40 W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20 WNW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25 W 20 - 30 W 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon NNW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning W 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon NNW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday 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
Friday Morning WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50 W 40 - 50 WNW 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 35 - 45 WSW 40 - 50 WSW 35 - 45 W 40 - 50
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 55 SW 40 - 50 WSW 45 - 65 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 50 - 65
Friday Night SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 45 - 60 W 45 - 60 W 50 - 60
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25 WNW 30 - 40 WNW 25 - 35 WSW 40 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 55
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon N 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Friday Evening SW 40 - 50
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning NW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon WSW 40 - 50
Friday Evening WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night WSW 45 - 60
Saturday Morning WNW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon WSW 35 - 45
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 60
Friday Night W 45 - 60
Saturday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WNW 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Friday Evening WSW 50 - 65
Friday Night W 50 - 60
Saturday Morning WSW 40 - 55
Saturday Afternoon NW 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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

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.