Issued: 7:16 AM PST Tuesday, January 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 Tuesday & Saturday

An elongated trough digging offshore has spawned a surface low which should cross the northern tip of Vancouver Island this morning.

A warm front that gradually crossed Washington Monday and Monday night now sits around the US-Canadian border, leaving most of the region in the warm sector of the storm with snow levels around 4000-5000 ft. The digging trough offshore should lift the warm front slightly northward which may warm the Mt. Baker area slightly in the afternoon. An accompany cold front moving eastward should reach the coastal region by late in the day and as it approaches. Light W winds through the Passes may shift easterly as prevaily winds gain a more southerly component. This could lower snow levels enough for snow to return to Stevens Pass in the afternoon, but rain is expected to continue at Snoqualmie. Crystal may become unblocked as the flow shifts southerly.

Rain and snow should focus on NW Washington in the same general areas for most of the day before the frontal rainband pushes precipitation back into areas further south and east in Washington by late in the day.

The front crosses Washington State tonight with strong winds, rain/snow, and good cooling with the precipitation and behind the front. A secondary frontal band likely to bring another band of precipitation after midnight as well as further cooling such that in the early morning hours, snow levels should be below all the mountain passes.

Light snow shower activity should continue over Washington State (moderate over the Mt. Hood area) on Wednesday with a cold trough in place.

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
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 4500' 5000' 4500' 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level * 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 1000' 1000' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday 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

Tuesday Tuesday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 - 2.00 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0
Leavenworth LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Paradise 1.00 1.00 LT 0.25
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 1.00 0.50
LT 0.25 1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 1.00
Saturday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 1.00
Saturday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 1.00
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SSW 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 S 25 - 35 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 10 - 20 W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Night WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20

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 Morning WSW 30 - 40 WSW 40 - 55 WSW 45 - 60 WSW 40 - 50 WSW 40 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 50 - 65 SW 45 - 60 SW 40 - 50 SW 35 - 45 SW 40 - 60
Tuesday Evening WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45
Tuesday Night WSW 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 40 - 50 W 35 - 45 W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning WSW 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50 W 35 - 45 W 45 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 50 - 65
Tuesday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night WSW 35 - 45
Wednesday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 40 - 55
Tuesday Afternoon SW 45 - 60
Tuesday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night W 35 - 45
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 45 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Tuesday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Night W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 40 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Tuesday Evening W 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 35 - 45
Wednesday Morning W 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon SW 40 - 60
Tuesday Evening W 35 - 45
Tuesday Night W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning W 45 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 50

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 Jan 6, 2020

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