Issued: 3:17 PM PST Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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 Tuesday night through Sunday

3:15 PM: Updated Snow Levels for east slopes Wednesday 

As one upper low weakens over southern B.C. Tuesday night, a secondary low offshore and rotating south will begin to amplify the flow such that the flow aloft turns more southwesterly.  A low pressure system currently aimed into California will begin to push northeast along the east slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood Tuesday night with increasing light snowfall.  As the low digs offshore and flow aloft becomes even more southerly, clouds and snow showers will fill in for the west slopes of the Cascades Wednesday afternoon. The brief period of southerly flow aloft should also temporarily moderate snow levels Wednesday afternoon relative to our extended cool stretch. 

An upper level shortwave trough rotating from the upper low parked offshore will push an organized band of showers through Wednesday evening with showers waning after midnight. This will also flip the winds from easterly to westerly at Pass level. The Mt. Baker area may see more moderate snow showers Wednesday night in this SW flow pattern. 

The broad upper low will weaken and move inland on Thursday. This will once again mean plenty of showers and clouds, especially in the afternoon for the mountains with cool snow levels.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy.
Mt. Baker
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light snow developing after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight with a chance of light snow. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight with a chance of light snow.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light snow developing after midnight.

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 * 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level * 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'

* 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 Sunday Sunday Night Sunday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25
LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night ENE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night ENE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10

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 S 10 - 20 SE 15 - 25 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SSE 10 - 20 SE 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20 SE 20 - 30 SE 15 - 25 S 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening S 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening SE 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening S 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening S 10 - 20
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening S 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

As the low moves inland on Friday, the Pacific Northwest will be on the backside of the upper level trough with onshore flow at the surface. This should translate to plenty of leftover clouds and scattered snow showers for the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics and somewhat clearer skies further east of the Cascade crest.  Saturday looks slightly warmer with isolated afternoon mountain showers as upper level ridge builds upstream of our area over B.C. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Thursday Night Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level 500' - 1500' 500' - 1500' 1000' - 2000'
Friday Night Snow Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Saturday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Saturday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Saturday Snow Level
1500' - 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.

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

Previous forecast from Mar 5, 2019

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