Issued: 2:32 PM PST Friday, February 7, 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 Friday night through Sunday

A classic, comma-shaped Pacific storm is moving will pack a punch Friday night into Saturday. It should bring an end to a prolonged period of elevated snow levels as the low tracking toward the Puget sound brings a strong cold front across the region during the evening hours, dropping snow levels by several thousand feet. Moderate to heavy rain initially with snow levels from 4000 ft in the north to 5500 ft in the Mt Hood area should drop to below 3000 ft by around midnight. Mt. Baker could see some very heavy snowfall with convergence in the evening hours. 

The system promises strong orographics with moderate to strong W and WSW winds should sustain heavy snowfall in the overnight hours into Saturday. The winds and snowfall should sustain longer in the central and southern Cascades than in the north, with a switch to more WNW flow pushing the heavier snowfall southward during the day on Saturday as it gradually decreases in all areas.

Mt. Hood and the SW Washington Cascades should get a few light snow showers Saturday evening before a high pressure offshore combined with northerly flow fully dries the region out. Expect clearing skies and cold temperatures.

Inversion conditions begin to develop on Sunday with northerly flow and clear, sunny skies. Valley fog is possible.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow with rapidly lowering snow levels in the evening. Moderate to strong winds decreasing after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Heavy rain and snow changing to all snow by late evening as snow levels drop rapidly. Moderate to strong 5000 ft winds decreasing and becoming light by morning.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Moderate snow in the evening becoming light to moderate after midnight. Strong alpine winds in the evening becoming moderate after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow early, then becoming all snow. Strong to very strong alpine winds peaking in the evening. Moderate W winds through the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Very heavy snow at Paradise, heavy snow at White Pass, and moderate snow at Crystal. Snow may mix with rain at lower elevations in the evening before strong cooling occurs. Very strong alpine winds.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Increasing moderate to heavy rain and snow in the evening changing to all snow. Very strong alpine winds.

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 3000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Friday Night Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 1500' 500' 0' 500' 1000' 1500' 1000' 1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level 2000' 2500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
0'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'

* 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 Sunday Sunday Night Sunday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Washington Pass 0.75 LT 0.10 0 0
Leavenworth 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Stevens Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 0 0
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Crystal Mt 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Paradise 1.50 0.75 LT 0.10 0
White Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.50 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.10 0
1.00 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.25 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.50
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.75
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 1.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0
Sunday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 1.00
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 1.00
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 25 - 35 S 10 - 20 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 25 - 35 W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15 N 0 - 10 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning N 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon NNW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning N 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon NNW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday 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
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45 SW 35 - 45 WSW 50 - 70 WSW 40 - 60 WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 WSW 45 - 60 W 40 - 55 W 50 - 65
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25 NW 30 - 40 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 40 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 45
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning NW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon N 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 35 - 45
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning NW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 50 - 70
Friday Night WSW 45 - 60
Saturday Morning NW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 60
Friday Night W 40 - 55
Saturday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night W 50 - 65
Saturday Morning WNW 40 - 55
Saturday Afternoon NW 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

High pressure brings a strong inversion to the region with gradually warming conditions in the alpine and cool conditions at Pass level. Light winds are expected. The next system looks to be a weak clipper that may bring some very light snow and a slight increase in wind on Tuesday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Freezing Level 0' - 1000' 0' - 1000' 1000' - 2000'
Monday Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' 6500' - 7500' 7500' - 8500'
Monday Night Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' 7000' - 8000' 9000' - 1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
0' - 1000'
Monday Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4500' - 6500'
Tuesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
0' - 1000'
Monday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Tuesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
Monday Freezing Level
7500' - 8500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
9000' - 1000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 5500'

* 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 7, 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.