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 Saturday
A major winter storm barrels towards the Pacific Northwest coastline: This one should be a major snow and wind producer.
Expect some lingering low-level moisture Sunday evening, but the precip from the last system has ended and mid-level clouds thicken across the region ahead of the strong frontal system approaching. Light rain and snow starts up after midnight and may be moderate by morning. Winds ramp up into the moderate to strong range with a 50-60 mph barrier jet forming from 3000-5000 ft altitudes likely to impact the Mt. Baker area in the early morning hours.
A warm front should move into the Snoqualmie area by 4-5 AM with a cold front to follow around 8 AM. Easterly flow likely keeps Snoqualmie Pass all snow as a wedge of warmer air brings snow levels briefly to 4000 ft in the Paradise area before the strong cold front rapidly lowers snow levels to 2000 ft from 10 AM onwards. Post-frontal strong westerly winds should keep the mountain enhancement strong along the west slopes of the Cascades and passes with moderate to heavy snow continuing. The snowfall should increase for Washington State in the late afternoon and evening hours as the vertically stacked associated low-pressure center moves across Vancouver Island and along the US-Canadian border, re-inforcing the very strong westerly Crest-level winds.
Sunday through Sunday night should bring widespread snowfall amounts of 1-2 ft for the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes with a notch less for the east slopes of the Cascades.
Snowfall slows down quickly on early on Monday leaving light snow flurry activity with cold temperatures as flow turns NW and the rapidly moving system exits the region.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday Night | Clouds lowering and thickening in the evening with light snow becoming moderate by morning. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Moderate to heavy snow. Strong ridge level winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday Night | Clouds lowering and thickening in the evening with light snow becoming moderate by morning. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Heavy snow. Strong 5000 ft winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday Night | Clouds lowering and thickening in the evening with light snow developing in the early morning hours. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Moderate to heavy snow. Very strong crest level winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday Night | Clouds lowering and thickening in the evening with light snow developing in the early morning hours. Light W winds switching E in the early morning hours through the Passes. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Heavy snow. Light E winds switching W by mid-morning and becoming moderate through the Passes. Strong 5000 ft winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday Night | Clouds lowering and thickening in the evening with light snow increasing. Light snow may become moderate at Paradise. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Very heavy snow for Paradise, heavy snow for White Pass and moderate snow for Crystal. Strong 5000 ft winds with very strong to extreme alpine winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday Night | High clouds in the evening lowering and thickening after midnight with light snow arriving by morning. Light 5000 ft winds becoming moderate after midnight. |
| Sunday | Heavy snow. Very strong to extreme alpine winds, peaking in the early morning hours. |
Issued: 2:49 PM PST Saturday, February 22, 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 | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 6000' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 3000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 5000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Sunday Evening | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Monday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Monday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Monday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
* 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 | Saturday | Saturday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.75 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.75 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 | 0 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.75 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Saturday | 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: 2:49 PM PST Saturday, February 22, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 | SSE 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 | W 40 - 55 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 40 - 55 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | W 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 45 - 65 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 40 - 60 | SW 35 - 45 | WSW 45 - 65 | WSW 45 - 65 | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 60 | WSW 40 - 55 | W 50 - 70 | W 50 - 70 | W 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 45 - 60 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 65 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 45 - 65 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 50 - 70 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Sunday Afternoon | W 50 - 70 |
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: 2:49 PM PST Saturday, February 22, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
On Monday night, a modest ridge edges into the Pacific Northwest region with a drying NW flow should lead to a cold, clear night. Temperatures rebound quickly on Tuesday with the high pressure briefly overhead but flattening as a weak system brings light rain and snow to the Olympics and North Cascades late in the day. Light rain and snow spread throughout the region on Tuesday night and generally lifts north of the Canadian border by the end of the day on Wednesday with a broad, low-amplitude ridge over the West Coast.
Temperatures for the extended period should be above normal from Tuesday afternoon onwards.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 5' - 1500' | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 500' - 2000' | 1500' - 3500' | 3000' - 5000' | |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Wednesday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 3500' - 4500' | 4500' - 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 5' - 1500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 500' - 2000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 1500' - 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Wednesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 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 22, 2020
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