Issued: 7:11 AM PST Friday, February 21, 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 Friday & Friday

The Pacific Northwest maintains another day of benign weather under a split flow pattern with the stronger jetstream sending moisture into British Columbia.  Inversion conditions exist in many areas on Friday morning with the stronger inversion east of the Cascade Crest and through the Passes. As of 6 AM, Snoqualmie Pass sits at 18F, while the top of Alpental hovers just below freezing at 31F. The inversion should ease by mid-morning across the region as sunny weather warms the lower atmosphere. High cirrus clouds gradually increase ahead of a weak and weakening frontal system today. 

The split flow pattern gradually breaks down Friday night with gradually increasing W flow. Clouds begin to lower and thicken overnight with the tail end of a weakening frontal system bringing some periods of very light rain and snow to the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas from late evening onwards.

The weak front crosses the region on Saturday, bringing some light rain and snow to areas of the Cascades from Snoqualmie Pass northward, with the only appreciable amounts of snow (several inches) expected for Mt. Baker. Already light precipitation should diminish behind the front in the afternoon.

 

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
Friday Morning Freezing Level * 4500' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 6000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level 5500' 5000' 5000' 4500' 5500' 5500' 6000' 7000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level 5000' 4500' 4000' 5000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 7000'
Friday Night Snow Level 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Friday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow 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 Friday Night Friday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday 0
Friday Night 0
Friday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Morning SSW 5 - 15 SSW 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Friday Night S 10 - 20
Saturday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15

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 Morning WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30
Saturday Morning WSW 30 - 40 WSW 35 - 45 W 30 - 40 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Friday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Friday Night WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Friday Evening W 20 - 30
Friday Night W 30 - 40
Saturday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Friday Evening W 25 - 35
Friday Night W 35 - 45
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Friday Evening W 20 - 30
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night W 20 - 30
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25

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 20, 2020

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