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Mountain Weather Forecast

Issued: 2:03 PM PST Sunday, February 11, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Tuesday

Post-frontal showers and moderate to strong SW-W winds will continue through this afternoon and overnight with the heaviest showers along the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes.  We'll probably see a brief lull in intensity later this afternoon before showers increase again overnight as the trailing low pressure center moves inland. The first half of Sunday night, the focus for the heaviest showers will continue to be along the west slopes of the Cascades from Hwy2 and northward but that should shift to I-90 to down towards Mt St Helens on Monday morning. Snow levels will gradually lower as colder air filters into the region. Showers will become more scattered and light during the afternoon. with decreasing cloud cover (and increasing sunshine) for the north Cascades and generally areas further east of the Cascade crest. Strong westerly winds will stick around the longest in the Mt Hood area. 

A broad trough will extend over the area Monday night through Tuesday with dry conditions expected. Daytime convective clouds and a few isolated showers may pop up Tuesday afternoon but otherwise expect a break in the weather pattern.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers becoming scattered after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
West North
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
West Central
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon.
West South
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest Paradise area. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decreasing overnight.
Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Stevens Pass
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light Pass level W winds easing in the afternoon.
Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong W ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Scattered light to occasionally moderate rain and showers in the morning, then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and light Pass level W winds easing in the afternoon.
East North
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Showers becoming more scattered after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Scattered light rain and showers near the Cascade crest in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
East Central
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
East South
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds easing in the afternoon.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Scattered light rain and showers in the morning, then becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds easing to moderate in the afternoon.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 4000' 4000' None' 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 3500' None' 3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3500' 3500' None' 4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 4000'
Monday Night Snow Level None' None' None' None' 2000' 2500' None' 3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level None' None' None' None' 3000' 3000' None' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None'
Monday Morning Snow Level
None'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Monday Evening Snow Level
None'
Monday Night Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None'
Monday Morning Snow Level
None'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Monday Evening Snow Level
None'
Monday Night Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None'
Monday Morning Snow Level
None'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Monday Evening Snow Level
None'
Monday Night Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None'
Monday Morning Snow Level
None'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Monday Evening Snow Level
None'
Monday Night Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
None'
Sunday Night Snow Level
None'
Monday Morning Snow Level
None'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Monday Evening Snow Level
None'
Monday Night Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
None'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
None'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'

* 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

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Paradise 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
White Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0 0
0.25 0.25 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None WSW None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None W None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None W None - None
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW None - None
Sunday Night W None - None
Monday Morning W None - None
Monday Afternoon W None - None
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW None - None
Sunday Night W None - None
Monday Morning W None - None
Monday Afternoon W None - None

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
Sunday Evening --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None --- None - None
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening --- None - None
Sunday Night --- None - None
Monday Morning --- None - None
Monday Afternoon --- None - None

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Thursday

It sounds like a broken record but there's still a fair bit of uncertainty regarding how the midweek weather pattern evolves. A strong but skinny ridge over the NE Pacific will be undercut by the storm track in westerly flow heading into CA/OR.  Some moisture may work its way north on Wednesday and Thursday with light and insignificant snow amounts near the Canadian border trending towards a more moderate shot of precipitation down near Mt Hood. Some models also have a mini-Fraser River Valley outflow event over this midweek period.  It does look like snow levels will drop but there's low confidence how long or how cold the pattern will turn. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Wednesday Night Snow Level None' - None' None' - None' None' - None' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
Wednesday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
None' - None'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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. 11, 2024

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