Issued: 2:39 PM PDT Friday, March 15, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Tuesday

A broad upper-level ridge sits over West Coast on Friday afternoon and is expected to remain relatively stationary through the day on Saturday.  The ridge is bringing above-normal and warming temperatures to our mountains as subsiding air warms and replaces cooler air previously in place. Diurnal temperature swings will be pronounced, particularly east of the Cascade Crest where each night of warming temperatures further weakens the cold pool as it mixes with the warm air aloft during the day time. Light low-level easterly flow is bringing some of this cooler air through the mountain gaps. High clouds will continue to move across the region ahead of a fizzling frontal boundary, which has a minor chance of bringing some very light drizzle to the Olympic Mountains Saturday evening. Saturday is expected to be slightly warmer than Friday, but slightly thicker high clouds may reduce the solar input slightly.

Saturday night the ridge pinches off a closed high pressure which drifts NE over the Pacific Northwest region. Sunday is expected to feature strong warming and the warmest temperatures seen in our mountains since October. It will be significantly warmer west of the Cascade Crest with light to moderate E flow.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Mild. Light winds.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Mild. Light winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Cold air pool weakening but still in place. Light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Light E winds, gusting moderate through the passes bringing cool air through the gaps. Light 5000 ft winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Mild. Light winds.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Mild. Light winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Friday Evening Freezing Level * 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 6500' 6500' 7500'
Friday Night Freezing Level * 6000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 6000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level * 6500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 6000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level * 7000' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 7000' 8000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level * 6500' 6500' 6000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 7000' 8000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level * 7000' 6000' 5500' 6500' 6000' 6500' 6500' 7500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level * 7500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(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 Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening S 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10
Friday Night SSW 0 - 10 SSE 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SSE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SSW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SSE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening SE 0 - 10
Friday Night ESE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening SE 0 - 10
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening ESE 0 - 10
Friday Night SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SSW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SSE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SE 0 - 10
Friday Night ESE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SE 0 - 10
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening ESE 0 - 10
Friday Night SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon VAR 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
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night SW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

Sunday night and through Tuesday a very warm high pressure drifts NE across our region into British Columbia. It will feature 8,000-10,000 ft freezing levels, clear skies, light upper-level winds, but E flow will increase through the mountain gaps into the moderate range during this time period. Temperatures are expected to be 10-15 F cooler east of the Cascade Crest than west of the crest. Temperatures will be just below or approaching record highs for the date in some locations.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' 8000' - 9000' 8500' - 9500' *
Monday Freezing Level 8000' - 10000' 8500' - 9500' 7500' - 8500' *
Monday Night Freezing Level 8500' - 10500' 8500' - 9500' 8500' - 9500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000' - 9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Freezing Level
8000' - 10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
8500' - 10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
8000' - 10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000' - 9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
7000' - 9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Freezing Level
7500' - 8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
8000' - 9000'
(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 Mar 15, 2019

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