Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Friday
A more active pattern re-commences. A garden variety front approaching the coast from the west is bringing rain and snow that has reached the Puget Sound at 7 AM Thursday morning. Expect light rain and snow to spread across the region during the morning hours with light amounts in all locations and minimal accumulations expected across the east slopes of the Cascades. Temperatures are in the 20's and low 30's at most NWAC stations with reasonably low relative humidities and the front should mix out any weak inversions. Snow levels should be in the 2000-3000 ft range or the Cascades. The front should cross the region during the early to mid-afternoon hours, turning increasing SW flow more westerly with a good westerly surge of air expected through the Passes behind the front heading into Thursday night. Moderate and sustained W flow associated with the upper trough should increase snowfall into the moderate category for the central Cascades south to Mt. Hood. We expect locally heavier amounts in a Puget Sound Convergence zone with the Stevens Pass vicinity the most likely target. Cooler air should also infiltrate the region, lowering snow levels.
With cool air in place, snow shower activity should decrease on Friday as winds decrease. Another frontal system moves into the nearshore waters by late in the day.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday | Light rain and snow becoming showery in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday | Light snow developing around 8 AM. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday | Periods of very light snow arriving by mid-morning. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Light rain and snow developing by mid to late morning. Should stay all snow at Pass level. Light winds becoming light to moderate by the afternoon at 5000 ft and westerly through the Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday | Light rain and snow developing by mid to late morning. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Light rain and snow developing by late morning. Increasing winds becoming moderate at 5000 ft by afternoon. Lowering snow level. |
Issued: 7:13 AM PST Thursday, February 13, 2020
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 | 3500' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 300' | 4500' | 6500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 2500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 4000' | 5500' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 300' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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 | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 7:13 AM PST Thursday, February 13, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
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 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 | W 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 60 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 | NW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | WNW 35 - 50 | WNW 30 - 40 | NW 40 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Afternoon | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Evening | W 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | W 45 - 60 |
| Friday Morning | NW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 40 - 55 |
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 12, 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.