Issued: 7:08 AM PST Sunday, January 26, 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 & Saturday

We remain in the storm-track fast lane with systems arriving every 12-18 hours.

An occluded frontal system pushed through the Cascades early this morning, attached to a low near the northern end of Vancouver Island. The low tracked slightly further offshore than expected and didn't develop to be quite as intense as we thought, so what was shaping up to be a decent wind storm for the mountains and lowlands has been slightly downgraded. Moderate to occasionally strong winds are still expected, particularly in places like Hurricane and Mt. Baker, but with the flow turning WSW behind the front, the alpine terrain throughout the Cascades could see moderate to occasionally strong winds as well. The radar indicates mostly light to moderate banded showers in post-frontal flow which should decrease throughout the day. Models continue to indicate higher amounts for Mt. Baker which should pick up around 8-14" of storm total snowfall by the end of the day. Snow levels are expected to remain relatively constant today, with the switch to more westerly wind raising snow levels slightly through the Passes and E of the Cascade Crest from late morning onwards.

A shortwave trough should arrive this evening and tonight and brings some enhancement of light to moderate rain and snow showers tonight along with another period of moderate to occasionally strong alpine winds. These showers should taper through Monday morning, ending in the North Cascades as a stronger system tracks toward the Washington Coast, spreading a warm front with some moderate to heavy rain and snow along with strong SSW winds to the Hood area and then to the southern and central Cascades and Olympics by afternoon.

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 * 4500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4500' 5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level * 3000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(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 Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 -1.00 0.75 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Leavenworth LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 0.25 0.25
Paradise 0.50 0.75 0.75
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
0.25 - 0.50 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night 0.75
Saturday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.75
Saturday 0.75
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.50
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning SSW 20 - 30 SSW 20 - 30 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening S 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning S 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening S 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Monday Morning S 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning SW 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening S 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Monday Morning S 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SSE 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning SW 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SW 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
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Evening SSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Sunday Evening SSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Evening SW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Sunday Night WSW 35 - 45
Monday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon WSW 45 - 60

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 25, 2020

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