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 Saturday
We don't have a single completely dry 6-hour period over the Pacific Northwest through the extended forecast.
A shortwave trough brings sits poised off our coastline with a weak low tracking toward Vancouver Island and an occluded/cold front evident from the line of clouds. This front should arrive this evening and tonight, bringing a 3-hour period of more sustained light to moderate rain and snow to the region along with a period of moderate 5000 ft winds, with light shower activity and some convergence Possible in the Mt. Baker area behind the front in the early morning hours. Snow levels should lower slightly into the 3000-4000 ft range overnight, with some slight cooling behind the front.
Post-frontal rain and snow shower activity should generally dissipate on Monday as a stronger system lifts a warm front northward spreading increasing light to moderate rain and snow from south to north with heavy precipitation arriving for in the Mt. Hood area late in the day. Rain and snow should hold off in the North Cascades until Monday evening. Snow levels should rise Monday night as intense SSW winds buffet the region. Monday night, the associated cold front moves across the region bringing heavy rain and snow throughout the Cascades. The associated filling (weakening) low pressure and upper trough moves into the region on Tuesday, continuing moderate rain and snow showers at lowering snow levels.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Sunday Night | Light rain and snow showers in the evening decreasing. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow developing and increasing in the afternoon. Increasing light winds becoming moderate at 5000 ft late in the day. |
Mt. Baker
| Sunday Night | Moderate rain and snow peaking in the late evening hours. Moderate to strong convergence possible after midnight. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow showers ending early. Then cloudy with winds increasing late in the day. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Sunday Night | Snow showers with a period of light sustained snowfall just before midnight. |
| Monday | Light snow showers near the Cascade Crest ending in the early morning, then cloudy, with light to moderate moving from south to north, reaching just south of Washington Pass by the end of the day. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Sunday Night | Periods of light rain and snow becoming more continuous during the late evening hours, with rain and snow showers tapering after midnight. Rain likely at Snoqualmie Pass level except during periods of easterly flow. Light W winds early becoming light E in the late evening, then light to moderate out of the West after midnight at Pass level. |
| Monday | Light W winds through the Passes switching light to moderate out of the E by late morning. Light snow developing and increasing in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Sunday Night | Periods of snow, heaviest in the late evening when it will be moderate at Paradise, but light elsewhere. |
| Monday | Light rain and snow developing in all areas during the morning, becoming moderate by the afternoon at Paradise and Crystal, but staying generally light at Crystal. Increasing moderate 5000 ft winds in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Sunday Night | Periods of light to moderate snow, heaviest in the evening. Strong alpine winds. |
| Monday | Cooler, with light rain and snow in the morning becoming moderate to heavy in the afternoon with snow levels rising late in the day. |
Issued: 2:24 PM PST Sunday, January 26, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level * | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 1500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Monday Evening | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 5000' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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 | Saturday | Saturday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 | 0.25 | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 | 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 1.50 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Saturday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | 1.50 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 2:24 PM PST Sunday, January 26, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | S 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 5 - 15 | ESE 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | SE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Monday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Night | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Sunday Evening | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Monday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Monday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 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.
Issued: 2:24 PM PST Sunday, January 26, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
The upper trough slides eastward Tuesday night giving our region a relative break with very light shower activity as a quick-moving ridge slides over our region overnight. Heavy rain and snow moves back into Washington State sometime during the day on Wednesday with higher snow levels. Precipitation decreases Wednesday night before and Thursday morning before another warm system in the European model aiming a firehose of precipitation at our region by the end of the day Thursday (the GFS is less convinced).
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 4500' - 6500' | * |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 4000' - 5000' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Thursday | Snow Level | 2000' - 4000' | 3000' - 5000' | 6500' - 7500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 2000' - 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Thursday |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
* 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 26, 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.