Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Wednesday
A juicy and strong frontal system has exited the region by the evening hours, leaving our region in post-frontal westerly flow with a trough moving into the region. The front brought significant cooling and a strong westerly surge of air behind it. Mid and high-level clouds should drop SE behind the front Saturday evening, while westerly low-level flow brings light snow, snow showers, and convergence activity to the Cascades. The best chances for 1-5" of snow accumulations Saturday night will be from Stevens Pass south to Crystal Mountain, as a moderate convergence zone band drops southward during the evening hours, and also in the Mt. Hood area. Temperatures continue to drop behind the front with snow levels 0-1500 ft. Skies may clear partially overnight.
On Sunday, most areas should see a rare partly sunny, pleasant, and chilly day, with snow levels less than 1500 ft and a slight chance of snow showers. The trough digs offshore in the morning as a shortwave feature moves to the coastline during the afternoon, bringing some light snowfall to the Olympics.
Cold weather persists into early next week. Sunday night, the shortwave weakens but spreads some very light snow to the mountains with a slight chance of convergence enhancement in the Central Cascades. The NNW flow aloft maintains a slight chance of snow showers Monday.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday Night | Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers. |
| Sunday | Partly cloudy to mostly sunny in the morning with clouds and a chance of snow showers returning late in the day. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday Night | Scattered light snow showers decreasing or ending after midnight. |
| Sunday | Partly cloudy and becoming partly sunny. A chance of isolated snow showers. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday Night | Light snow showers, heaviest during the evening hours, then decreasing or ending after midnight. Clearing skies east of the Cascade Crest. |
| Sunday | Becoming mostly sunny. A chance of isolated snow showers. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light to locally moderate snow showers, heaviest in convergence and decreasing after midnight. Convergence should drop south from the Stevens Pass area toward the Snoqualmie area during the evening hours. Decreasing light W winds through the Passes. |
| Sunday | Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly sunny by afternoon. A chance of isolated snow showers. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light snow showers decreasing or ending after midnight. |
| Sunday | Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly sunny by afternoon. A chance of isolated snow showers. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Night | Light to moderate snow in the early evening tapering to light snow showers. Strong to extreme alpine winds tapering off quickly during the evening hours, then becoming moderate. |
| Sunday | Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly sunny by afternoon. A chance of isolated snow showers. |
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Saturday, February 1, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 3000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 1000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 0' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 0' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
* 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 Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 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: 2:15 PM PST Saturday, February 1, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | S 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | S 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
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 Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 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.
Issued: 2:15 PM PST Saturday, February 1, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
The Pacific Northwest dries out Monday night. A more significant system sliding down the backside of an offshore ridge spreads increasing light snowfall to the W slopes of the Cascades and Olympics on Tuesday. Rain and snow intensify overnight as snow levels begin to rise as the ridge expands slightly. Expect heavy snow and rapidly rising snow levels as heavier precipitation continues to spill over the ridge on Wednesday. This could be another significant rain event as snow changes back to rain in many locations.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 500' - 1500' | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 2000' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 3000' | 2000' - 3500' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 4000' - 5000' | 5500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 3000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 2000' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
* 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 Feb 1, 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.