Issued: 7:11 AM PST Saturday, January 25, 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 Saturday & Sunday

A relatively weak trough is moving over the region on a SW flow. It should bring several E-W oriented bands of light to moderate rain and snow moving across central and northern Washington State today, with decreasing light to occasionally moderate post-frontal rain and snow behind the trough to the south. Snow levels are generally hovering around 3000-4000 ft in the Washington Cascades today, with Mt. Hood in the 5000-5500 ft range. Precipitation should linger longer in the North Cascades this afternoon with some potential for convergence south of Mt. Baker while areas further south dry out.

Tonight, a more significant system moving NE on a siilar track should bring a well-defined low and associated warm and cold front across the region with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow spreading across the region through the evening hours, making it into the N Cascades by around midnight. Moderate to strong winds should accompany the frontal system, with the strongest winds for the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas overnight into Sunday morning. Maximum sustained winds are likely to be 30-40 mph for Hurricane Ridge and 25-35 mph for Mt. Baker. Mt. Hood should also get some strong alpine winds.

The heaviest rain and snow should spread from the Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier areas overnight to the central and N Cascades during the day on Sunday. Higher elevation Ski area bases should pick up 5-10" of snow with Mt. Baker and Paradise picking up slightly more.

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
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 4000' 4000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 5500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 5000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 6000'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 5000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 6500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 4500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 5000' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15 SSE 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10 SSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SSE 25 - 35 ESE 15 - 25 ESE 15 - 25 ESE 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35 SSE 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night SSE 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night SSE 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Saturday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Saturday Night ESE 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30

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
Saturday Morning SSW 20 - 30 SW 15 - 25 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40 W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15 SSW 10 - 20 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 30 - 40
Saturday Night S 25 - 35 S 20 - 30 SW 30 - 40 SW 35 - 45 WSW 40 - 50
Sunday Morning SSW 40 - 50 SW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 40 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 25 - 35
Sunday Morning SSW 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Evening S 5 - 15
Saturday Night S 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35 - 45
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 35 - 45
Sunday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SSW 30 - 40
Saturday Night WSW 40 - 50
Sunday Morning WSW 40 - 55
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40

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 24, 2020

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