Issued: 7:14 AM PST Saturday, February 15, 2020
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Monday

A frontal system is tapping into plentiful moisture as it approaches the Pacific Northwest coastline. A weak is currently developing along that front and should move down the coast of British Columbia during the morning hours. A warm front aligned north to south has brought a 1200 ft rise in snow levels at Forks with a strong westerly jetstream rapidly advancing the front. Light rain and snow started overnight for the north and central Washington Cascades (west of the Crest) as warm air begins to over-run the cold air in place. The main batch of moisture has arrived over SW Washington and should spread throughout the region, with the heavier precipitation south of Mt. Baker. Most areas of Washington should see all snow, above 3500 ft and above 4500 ft in the Mt. Hood area, with intensifying precipitation throughout the day today. The associated cold front drops southeast, cutting off precipitation during the evening hours for much of Washington and by the morning. Heavy precipitation should sustain for Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood for an extended period from late morning Saturday through Sunday night.

Post-frontal westerly flow and upper-level instability should renew snow shower and convergence activity in Washington State later Saturday night with a shortwave feature intensifying the shower activity late in the day on Sunday. After snow levels drop significantly Saturday night, they should remain well below pass level.

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening WSW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 25 - 35
Saturday Night W 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening W 25 - 35
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening W 25 - 35
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday 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
Saturday Morning WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45
Saturday Evening W 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 50
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 30 - 40 W 40 - 50
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening W 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Saturday Evening W 30 - 40
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Saturday Evening W 30 - 40
Saturday Night W 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Saturday Evening W 30 - 40
Saturday Night W 30 - 40
Sunday Morning WNW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon WNW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Saturday Evening W 40 - 50
Saturday Night W 40 - 50
Sunday Morning W 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon WSW 35 - 45

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 14, 2020

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