Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Thursday
Updated snowfall information for Saturday at 2:50 PM
Temperatures are in the 30's and 40's for nearly all NWAC stations below Camp Muir on Friday afternoon as an atmospheric river continues to impact the Pacific Northwest, bringing subtropical moisture and 6000-9000 ft snow levels, multiple inches of rainfall to the west slopes and passes of Washington State.
The warm-front pushed north of the region Saturday afternoon, shifting the brunt of the moisture into British Columbia, but the associated strong cold front should push south, bringing heavy rain and high elevation snow to the region overnight and strong to extreme alpine winds. Expect the front to pass the Olympics around 6 AM and the Cascades around 9 AM tomorrow with cooling starting several hours before the frontal passage, with snow levels dropping rapidly behind the front as the precipitation turns showery. We expect the rain to turn to snow at Snoqualmie Pass before noon and convergence bands are likely in the central Cascades through Saturday evening, leaving locally higher snowfall totals at lower elevations. Most areas of the Cascades should see some minor accumulation around 3000 ft, several inches or more are expected above 4000 ft, with a quick shot of 4-10" possible for areas above 5000 ft. By the afternoon, snow levels will be well below the Passes.
On Saturday night, light snow showers should continue with a trough over the region and snow levels dropping to near sea level.
The trough digs on Sunday with sustained snow levels below 1500 ft, with very light snow showers enhanced Sunday afternoon as a shortwave rides down the back of the trough.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Heavy rain and high elevation snow. Snow levels lowering after midnight. Strong to extreme ridge-top winds. |
| Saturday | Light to moderate rain and snow quickly changing to light snow showers as snow levels drop and moderate winds become light to moderate. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Heavy rain and high elevation snow. Snow levels lowering after midnight. Strong to extreme ridge-top winds. |
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow with rapidly lowering snow levels quickly transitioning to light snow showers. Alpine winds decrease from strong into the moderate range. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and high elevation snow with significant spillover east of the Crest. Strong to extreme Crest-level winds. |
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow with rapidly lowering snow levels transitioning to light snow showers during the moring hours. Decreasing strong to very strong alpine winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Cloudy with drizzle likely through the evening and then light to moderate rain and high elevation snow developing in the early morning hours. Strong to extreme Crest-level winds. Light W winds through the Passes becoming moderate to strong in the early morning hours. |
| Saturday | Heavy rain and high elevation snow early, transitioning to light to moderate snow showers and convergence. Rain turning to snow at Snoqualmie Pass before noon and at Stevens Pass by 10 AM. Moderate to strong winds through the Passes early in the morning quickly decreasing into the light to moderate range. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday Night | Cloudy with drizzle likely through the evening and then light to moderate rain and high elevation snow developing in the early morning hours. Strong to extreme Crest-level winds. |
| Saturday | Moderate to heavy rain and snow early becoming light to moderate snow showers as snow levels drop rapidly during the morning hours. Heaviest at Paradise. Strong to very strong alpine winds decreasing into the moderate to strong range by afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Cloudy with drizzle likely. Strong to extreme alpine winds. |
| Saturday | Heavy rain and snow at lowering snow levels. Strong to extreme alpine winds in the morning decreasing to strong in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:51 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 7000' | 6000' | 6000' | 7500' | 6000' | 6500' | 7000' | 9500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 6000' | 5500' | 5500' | 7000' | 6500' | 6500' | 6500' | 8500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2500' | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 2000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 1000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 8500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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
| Friday Night | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 2.00 - 2.50 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 | 1.00 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 | 1.00 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 1.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 | 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 2.00 - 2.50 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 1.00 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 1.00 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 1.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 1.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:51 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 30 - 40 | S 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 40 - 55 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 50 - 70 | WNW 55 - 75 | WSW 65 - 80 | WSW 60 - 75 | WSW 60 - 75 |
| Friday Night | SW 45 - 65 | WSW 70 - 90 | WSW 70 - 85 | WSW 70 - 85 | WSW 70 - 85 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 50 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 50 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SW 50 - 70 |
| Friday Night | SW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WNW 55 - 75 |
| Friday Night | WSW 70 - 90 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 65 - 80 |
| Friday Night | WSW 70 - 85 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 60 - 75 |
| Friday Night | WSW 70 - 85 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 60 - 75 |
| Friday Night | WSW 70 - 85 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 50 - 65 |
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: 2:51 PM PST Friday, January 31, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The shortwave should sustain light snow showers with NNW flow and the potential for additional very light snow showers through Monday. The cold weather continues through Tuesday morning as a system brings warming temperatures and light to moderate snow as it spreads into the region on a NW flow. With cold air in place, snow levels probably won't rise much until Tuesday evening.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 500' - 1500' | 500' - 1500' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 0' - 0' | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 0' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 2000' |
* 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 31, 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.