Issued: 7:03 AM PST Friday, March 8, 2019
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

A cold upper low sits over western Washington with a very weak surface low swinging limited moisture into the region, with appreciable amounts expected mostly south of I-90. The SW Washington and Mt. Hood areas could see up to 0.25" of snow water equivalent in some areas, but the timing and location of bands of showers have been difficult to predict as the surface low slides gradually SE, spinning bands of moisture around it as it moves. Periods of sunshine over many areas of Washington State will allow the low-levels of the atmosphere to warm up and with very cold air aloft, instability showers can be expected to develop even as the trough dynamic forcing wanes later this afternoon. Visibility may decrease drastically in one of these convective snow showers with a quick round of graupel or moderate-intensity snowfall in some locations. 

Snow shower activity should taper and end during the evening hours in the Mt. Rainier area, lingering through the overnight areas around Mt. Hood. Many areas will experience clearing skies, calm winds, and strong radiational cooling.

Saturday should be mostly sunny, fair weather with a chance of a few flurries in the southern parts of the forecast region as the upper and surface lows drift further SE of the region, gradually replaced by a weak wedge of high pressure. Expect a slightly warmer day on Saturday than Friday, but temperatures remain well below seasonal norms.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

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 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level * 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Friday Night Snow Level * 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Snow Level
0'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(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.

Precipitation Forecast

Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 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 ENE 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon E 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WSW 10 - 20
Friday Evening E 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Friday Night ESE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Friday Evening E 0 - 10
Friday Night ESE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Friday Evening E 0 - 10
Friday Night ESE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Friday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning E 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon E 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
Friday Morning W 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 WNW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening W 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning N 0 - 10 N 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning N 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon NNE 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning NW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Friday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Friday Night NW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning N 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon N 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon ENE 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 Mar 7, 2019

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