Issued: 8:49 AM PST Thursday, February 6, 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 Thursday & Monday

0845 Update: Snow levels lowered for most zones this morning. 

The deluge continues for the west-side of the central and south Washington Cascades. An atmospheric river continues to deliver copious amounts of moisture up and over an upper level ridge positioned well offshore, resulting in NW flow aloft. The second warm frontal pulse will arrive today with very heavy rain and snow expected from about the Mountain Loop Highway and to White Pass. More moderate amounts are expected for the Olympics, Mt. Baker and Mt. Hood. Strong NW flow will result in strong drying for the lee side of the Cascades today, with much lighter amounts expected not far to the east of the Cascade crest. West winds will be strongest from about the I-90 corridor and south, with extreme winds continuing to rock the Mt. Hood area throughout the day. 

Snow levels were a bit cooler than forecast overnight, but they are still expected to rise about 500-1000 ft from their current levels today and peak in the evening. The frontal boundary will sag south overnight, delivering one more punch of moisture before beginning to wind down Friday morning. Precipitation rates should decrease on Friday, but there won't be a break in the weather. Another warm front associated with a low pressure system approaching the northern end of Vancouver Island begins to lift into the area during the afternoon hours, renewing precipitation over the area.  

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

Precipitation Forecast

Thursday Thursday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.75 0.25 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 2.50 2.00 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.25
Paradise 2.00 - 2.50 2.00 0.50
White Pass 1.50 - 2.00 1.50 - 2.00 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 1.50 0.50
1.50 1.50 - 2.00 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.75
Thursday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.75
Thursday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.50
Thursday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 2.50
Thursday Night 2.00
Monday 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 2.00 - 2.50
Thursday Night 2.00
Monday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.50 - 2.00
Thursday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.00 - 1.50
Thursday Night 1.50
Monday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday 1.50
Thursday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Monday 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Morning W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30 W 10 - 20 W 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 40 - 50
Thursday Night W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 40 - 50
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Morning W 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 25 - 35
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Morning W 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Thursday Evening W 40 - 50
Thursday Night W 40 - 50
Friday Morning W 35 - 45
Friday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 25 - 35
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 40 - 50
Thursday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Thursday Evening W 40 - 50
Thursday Night W 40 - 50
Friday Morning W 35 - 45
Friday 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
Thursday Morning W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 NW 60 - 70 NW 55 - 65 NW 60 - 70
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 NW 60 - 70 NW 55 - 65 NW 60 - 70
Thursday Evening W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 NW 55 - 65 NW 55 - 65 NW 60 - 70
Thursday Night W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 WNW 40 - 50 WNW 50 - 60 WNW 60 - 70
Friday Morning W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 WNW 40 - 50 WNW 50 - 60 WNW 60 - 70
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Thursday Evening W 30 - 40
Thursday Night W 30 - 40
Friday Morning W 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning W 35 - 45
Thursday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Thursday Evening W 35 - 45
Thursday Night W 30 - 40
Friday Morning W 30 - 40
Friday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NW 60 - 70
Thursday Afternoon NW 60 - 70
Thursday Evening NW 55 - 65
Thursday Night WNW 40 - 50
Friday Morning WNW 40 - 50
Friday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NW 55 - 65
Thursday Afternoon NW 55 - 65
Thursday Evening NW 55 - 65
Thursday Night WNW 50 - 60
Friday Morning WNW 50 - 60
Friday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Morning NW 60 - 70
Thursday Afternoon NW 60 - 70
Thursday Evening NW 60 - 70
Thursday Night WNW 60 - 70
Friday Morning WNW 60 - 70
Friday Afternoon W 40 - 50

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 6, 2020

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