Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Sunday
A frontal system continues to impact the Pacific Northwest on Saturday, with the heavier rain and snow mostly for the central and southern Washington Cascades. After a bump-up in snow levels to about 3500 ft, a cold front should drop snow levels quickly overnight and shuts off pre-frontal rain and snow from north to south during the evening hours, except at Mt. Hood, where snowfall should intensify and won't let up until the early morning hours. Behind the front, convergence snow activity should focus on the Mt. Baker area and Stevens to Snoqualmie vicinities, potentially dropping up to 6 inches in some locations.
Sunday should be colder with light snow showers and less convergence, but with a disturbance in the WNW flow arriving and increasing snowfall late in the day with moderate snow along the west slopes of the Cascades and near the Cascade crest in the evening hours, followed by some strong convergence likely focusing on the Stevens Pass area late Sunday night. This should be a significant snow event for the west slopes of the central and north Cascades in particularly. Flow switches northwesterly on Monday as light snow showers decrease.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday Night | Partially clearing skies. |
| Sunday | Periods of light snow developing. Light to moderate ridgetop winds increasing. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday Night | Decreasing light snow showers. |
| Sunday | Light snow showers, increasing in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday Night | Light to moderate snow quickly turning to light snow showers confined to near the Cascade Crest with winds lowering quickly. |
| Sunday | Light snow showers or flurries close to the Cascade Crest. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday Night | Moderate snow in the early evening quickly decreasing, then light to moderate convergence activit likely sliding southward from near Stevens to near Snoqualmie overnight. Westerly wind through the passes 10-15 mph. |
| Sunday | Light snow showers, increasing late in the day. Increasing W wind through the Passes 10-20 mph. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday Night | Light to moderate snow quickly decreasing in the evening and then becoming light snow showers.. |
| Sunday | Light snow showers, increasing late in the day. Increasing W wind through the Passes 10-20 mph. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Night | Heavy snow and very strong alpine winds, with precipitation mostly winding down by daybreak. |
| Sunday | Light snow showers. |
Issued: 3:00 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
* 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 Night | Sunday | Sunday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
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: 3:00 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Sunday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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 Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | 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 25 - 35 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 30 - 40 | W 40 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Morning | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| 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.
Issued: 3:00 PM PST Saturday, February 15, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Monday night through Tuesday, expect clearing skies as flow switches increasingly northerly as a strong ridge of high-pressure building offshore moves closer to the coast. East flow develops Tuesday night and Wednesday as warmer sinking air under the high pressure creates an E-W temperature difference across the Cascades with a cold pool east of the Crest and warmer air to the west. The moves across the region on Wednesday with moderate E flow through the mountain gaps.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | 2000' - 4000' | 2500' - 4000' | 2500' - 4500' | |
| Tuesday Night | Freezing Level | 3500' - 4500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | * |
| Wednesday | Freezing Level | 5000' - 6000' | 3000' - 4000' | 5000' - 7000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 2500' - 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 2500' - 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
* 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 15, 2020
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