Issued: 8:52 AM PST Sunday, January 19, 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 Sunday & Thursday

8:50 AM update: Changed cloud cover in southern parts of the forecast area.

A strong jetstream steered by a Gulf of Alaska low is bringing heavy precipitation to British Columbia, but a ridge of high pressure over the western US is keeping most of the precipitation is to our north and west. Warm air advection continues to keep snow/freezing levels rising, but E winds bringing cold air from east of the Cascades Crest introduce multiple freezing levels in the lower Cascade passes and Mt. Hood area. Washington Pass has stayed cold, but with a temperature inversion. Most locations west of the crest are seeing dramatically warmer conditions than just a few days ago. The Olympics and Mt. Baker areas should receive some light rain and snow while Mt. Hood has rapidly decreasing clouds and sunshine should replace the freezing rain and rain reported early this morning. The southern and then central Washington Cascades should also see a transition from mid-elevation clouds to mostly sunny conditions throughout the day.

Sunday and Sunday night, a shortwave trough riding along the strong jet to our NW, should re-orient the precipitation band so that it is more N-S as it moves towards our near-shore waters by early Monday morning. A stronger low further offshore incorporates the weakening frontal system before it comes onshore, such that generally only the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas get a brush of rain and high elevation snow on Monday morning, lingering into the afternoon for the Olympics.

 

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
Sunday Morning Snow Level * 5000' 4500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3500' 5500' 7000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level * 6500' 6000' 3500' 3000' 4000' 6000' 6500' 7500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level * 7000' 6500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 6000' 6500' 6000'
Sunday Night Snow Level * 7000' 5500' 3500' 3000' 4000' 5500' 5000' 4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 4500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20 SSE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SSE 10 - 20 SE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night S 15 - 25 SSE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 SE 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 S 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Night S 15 - 25
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SE 5 - 15
Sunday Night SSE 10 - 20
Monday Morning S 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Evening E 5 - 15
Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Monday Morning SE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Evening E 5 - 15
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning S 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Night S 15 - 25
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SE 5 - 15
Sunday Night SSE 10 - 20
Monday Morning S 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Evening E 5 - 15
Sunday Night E 5 - 15
Monday Morning SE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Sunday Evening E 5 - 15
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning S 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning S 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SSE 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
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 WSW 25 - 35 SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening SSW 25 - 35 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night S 25 - 35 S 20 - 30 SSW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 20 - 30 SSW 25 - 35 SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Sunday Evening SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night S 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Sunday Evening SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night S 20 - 30
Monday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Sunday Evening SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon SW 25 - 35

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 19, 2020

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