Issued: 7:04 AM PST Wednesday, February 5, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Monday

Another atmospheric river event is well underway as copious amounts of moisture with a sub-tropical tap rise up and over an upper level ridge positioned well offshore. The heaviest precipitation should favor the west slopes of the central and south Washington Cascades. Strong NW flow aloft will allow for precipitation to quickly taper the further on travels east of the crest. Snow levels are on the rise today, albeit slowly. Snow levels will rise to 4000-6000' today, with even higher snow levels for the Olympics and Mt. Hood. W-NW winds will be strongest from I-90 and south throughout the short term. 

The wet, mild and windy story doesn't change much overnight or tomorrow. Another pulse of warm frontal moisture will arrive late tonight with even heavier precipitation expected tomorrow. Once snow levels peak today or tonight, they should stay fairly static through Thursday. 

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
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 7000' 4500' 2000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 5000' 5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 7000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 4000' 6000' 6500' 7000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level 6500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5500' 6000' 6500' 7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 6500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 4500' 6000' 6500' 6500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 6500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 4500' 6000' 6000' 6500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
6500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Wednesday Wednesday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 1.00 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 0.50 - 0.75
Leavenworth 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.00 1.00 - 1.50 1.50 - 2.00
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 - 1.50 2.00 2.50 - 3.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.50
Crystal Mt 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 1.00 - 1.50
Paradise 2.00 2.00 2.00
White Pass 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 1.00
1.50 0.75 -1.00 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 0.75
Wednesday Night 1.00
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.50
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.00
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 1.50 - 2.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday Night 2.00
Monday 2.50 - 3.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday Night 1.00
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 2.00
Wednesday Night 2.00
Monday 2.00
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday Night 0.75
Monday 1.00
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Wednesday 1.50
Wednesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Monday 1.00 - 1.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening W 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 40 - 50
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 15 - 25 W 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 15 - 25
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 25 - 35
Thursday Morning W 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning W 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening W 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 40 - 50
Thursday Morning W 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 15 - 25
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 25 - 35
Thursday Morning W 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning W 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening W 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 40 - 50
Thursday Morning W 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40

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
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50 NW 40 - 50 WNW 50 - 60 NW 60 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50 NW 50 - 60 WNW 50 - 60 NW 60 - 70
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35 WNW 40 - 50 NW 50 - 60 WNW 50 - 60 WNW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night W 30 - 40 WNW 40 - 50 WNW 50 - 60 WNW 50 - 60 NW 55 - 65
Thursday Morning WNW 35 - 45 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 50 - 60 WNW 50 - 60 NW 55 - 65
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Wednesday Evening W 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 30 - 40
Thursday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening WNW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night WNW 40 - 50
Thursday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning NW 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon NW 50 - 60
Wednesday Evening NW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night WNW 50 - 60
Thursday Morning WNW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon W 50 - 60
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 50 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 50 - 60
Wednesday Evening WNW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night WNW 50 - 60
Thursday Morning WNW 50 - 60
Thursday Afternoon WNW 60 - 70
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning NW 60 - 70
Wednesday Afternoon NW 60 - 70
Wednesday Evening WNW 50 - 60
Wednesday Night NW 55 - 65
Thursday Morning NW 55 - 65
Thursday Afternoon NW 55 - 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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Feb 4, 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.