Issued: 2:42 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Thursday

The Pacific Northwest sits in the warm sector of a string of frontal systems taking aim at British Columbia. The Pacific Northwest sits in the warm sector with a warm front to our north. A ridge of high pressure over the western US has only allowed a small amount of this moist system's precipitation to invade western Washington and Oregon. The region should dry out further Sunday night as the trailing frontal boundary re-orients N-S offshore. The Olympics and Mt. Baker areas could continue to see some very light rain or snow, but hardly anything measurable. Expect unseasonably mild temperatures west of the Cascade Crest (temperatures in the 30's and even possibly low 40's in some locations) with a weakened cold pool keeping temperatures in the 20's and low thirties east of the Cascade Crest. A weakening frontal system moves into the near-shore waters by the early morning hours with rain and snow reaching the west slopes of the Olympics. As it approaches, easterly gradients and winds through the Cascade Passes should peak during the evening hours.

On Monday, the weakening front moves onshore spreading some increasing light rain and snow to the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas, but the front stalls through Monday evening. Monday night a stronger system offshore joins forces with the original front and pushes light rain and snow into the Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier area, and Olympics by Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, the frontal system moves through the Cascades, bringing cooling temperatures and moderate precipitation to the region as it passes. With a cool E flow continuing and lowering snow levels, expect some snowfall accumulations with Mt. Baker likely to pick up the most (perhaps 6-12").

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a rain/snow shower early. Mild.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of light rain or snow in the early evening. Mild.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy aloft with low clouds and inversion conditions in the valleys.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Low clouds possible through the mountain gaps. Decreasing light to moderate winds at 5000 ft with E winds 15-25 mph gusting strong. Stronger winds in the Cascade foothills west of the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy. Mild.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy and mild with multiple freezing levels.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Freezing Level * 8000' 7000' 4500' 5500' 6500' 7500' 7500' 8000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level * 8000' 7000' 4000' 5500' 6000' 7000' 7000' 7000'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5500' 5000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level * 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5500'
Monday Evening Snow Level * 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000'
Monday Night Snow Level * 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 4500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 3500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(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 Night Thursday Thursday Night Thursday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0.25 0.25 0.75
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0.25
Leavenworth 0 0 0 LT 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.25 0.50
0 0 LT 0.25 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

Tuesday night, a weakening shortwave trough moves over the region with some light to moderate rain and snow at lower snow levels. Wednesday, a moderately strong warm front approaches the region in the morning and spreads increasing moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow during the afternoon with snow levels beginning to rise by late in the day. Thursday night, the warm front continues to lift northward with rain and snow along with rising snow levels as the cold front approaches the coastline by morning. On Thuraday, the whole package lifts NE, with rain and high elevation snow continuing, with a trough starting to move into the region by the end of the day. Wednesday onwards should be milder than average. E flow is likely to continue through much of the period, maintaining a pattern of lower snow levels through the Passes and east of the Cascade Crest with periods of freezing rain at times.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' 5000' - 6000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Wednesday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
(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 Jan 19, 2020

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.