Issued: 2:24 PM PST Sunday, February 2, 2020
by Robert Hahn

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 Tuesday

Benign weather under a cool upper trough persists through Monday night before more active weather arrives Tuesday through the end of the week.

On Sunday afternoon, a relatively narrow band of weakly convective clouds associated with an upper shortwave trough are spreading onshore over the Olympic Peninsula. These clouds spread inland with chances of snow showers into the west slopes of the Olympic Mountains during the evening hours. Chances for light snow or snow showers move eastward into the Cascades from the late evening hours through Sunday morning with a dusting of snow expected in most locations. Weak convergence may bring several inches of snow to areas of the central Washington Cascades, but the locations are difficult to predict.  NNW flow aloft behind the feature should mean the light to very light snow shower activity generally ends by afternoon as ridging works it's way into the region, giving us a cold and clear Monday night. Snow levels vary with diurnal warming from 0 up to around 1000 ft on both Sunday and Monday, with freezing levels hovering near or just above sea level on Monday night. On Tuesday, the first stages of an increasingly warm and wet train of moisture (another atmospheric river) begin to impact the region. Snow levels stay low for this initial moisture.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Cloudy in the evening with light snow showers. Decreasing clouds with a slight chance of snow flurries after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Clear early with clouds increasing in the evening and then a chance of light snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Mostly clear with partly cloudy skies and a chance of snow flurries near the Cascade Crest.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Clear in the early evening then increasing clouds with periods of light snowfall and a chance of weak convergence snowfall after 10 PM. W winds 0-10 mph through the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Clear in the evening with a chance of light snow showers after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with chances of periods of light snow or snow showers increasing.

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 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 1000' 0' 0' 500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 1000' 500' 500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Monday Night Freezing Level 1000' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 1000' 0' 0' 0' 0' 500' 500' 500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
0'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
500'
Tuesday 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

Sunday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0 0.25
White Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10 SSW 0 - 10 WNW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Sunday Night WNW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WNW 0 - 10
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening SSW 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening W 5 - 15
Sunday Night W 5 - 15
Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WNW 0 - 10
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening SSW 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 5 - 15
Sunday Night W 5 - 15
Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon W 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NNW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning NW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning NW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NNW 15 - 25
Sunday Night NW 10 - 20
Monday Morning NW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon NNW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

The extended outlook looks very wet with another significant atmospheric river event impacting Washington State with moisture of subtropical origin moving over the top of an offshore ridge of high pressure.

Tuesday night, as waves of moisture intensify and moderate precipitation takes aim on Washington state,  snow levels rise to near Snoqualmie Pass level with the most significant warming over the Olympic Mountains. On Wednesday, rain and high elevation snow continue to focus on Washington State with snow levels rising toward Cascade Crest level by the end of the day in the central Washington Cascades. The heavy rain continues Wednesday night with little change in snow level. On Thursday, perhaps the most intense wave of moisture moves over Washington State.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 1500' - 3500' 2000' - 4000' 2000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 6000' 5000' - 7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 5000' - 6000' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500' - 3500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Thursday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
5000' - 7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Thursday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'

* 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 2, 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.