Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Thursday
A frontal system currently draped over Vancouver Island is spreading a few showers and increasing clouds over Washington State this afternoon. The front will slide through the region later this evening with light rain and snow showers extending south along the Washington Cascades. All areas near and west of the Cascade crest should see cloudy conditions develop tonight and continue through tomorrow morning with the best chance for lingering showers for the north and central Cascades through early afternoon.
Weak upper level ridging will help trap low-level moisture tomorrow, likely preventing a full break-out from I-90 and northward along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics. The east slopes of the Cascades, south of I-90 and the Mt. Hood area should all see a fair amount of sunshine Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures should be a notch cooler on Wednesday after the front's passage. Also of note will be the strong NW winds above the Cascade crest level tomorrow affecting the central and north Cascades.
Wednesday night through Thursday will feature a battle between upper level ridging positioned over the West Coast and a storm track directed into British Columbia. The result will be what's termed a dirty ridge; moisture from frontal systems directed to our north will slip under the ridge, with periods of light rain and snow showers possible for the Mt. Baker area and the Olympics transitioning to warmer and sunnier conditions further south.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday Night | Light rain and snow showers becoming scattered showers after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers in the morning then becoming partly sunny in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday Night | Light rain and snow showers becoming scattered showers after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers through mid-day then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers near Washington Pass. |
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy in the morning becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Light east wind at Pass level becoming west after midnight. |
| Wednesday | Cloudy with scattered rain and snow showers through mid-day then becoming mostly cloudy with sunbreaks in the afternoon. Light west winds at Pass level increasing in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday Night | Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Wednesday | Cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the morning then partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday Night | Becoming cloudy overnight with a slight chance of light rain and snow showers. |
| Wednesday | Cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the morning, becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon. |
Issued: 1:38 PM PST Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 5000' | 5500' | 7000' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 6000' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 4000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Evening | Freezing Level | 4500' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 4500' | 7000' |
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level | 4500' | 3000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' | 7000' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 7000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 5000' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' | 7500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
* 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
| Tuesday Night | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
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: 1:38 PM PST Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 | NW 35 - 45 | NW 30 - 40 | NW 25 - 35 | NW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | NW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | NW 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.
Issued: 1:38 PM PST Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The upper level ridge shifts inland and amplifies Thursday night and Friday as a stronger frontal system digs well offshore. This will back the upper level flow to SW, allowing freezing levels to soar on Friday, especially for areas south of I-90. Cloud cover should again have a strong N-S distinction with more clouds likely for the north Cascades and Olympics and fewer clouds southward.
A frontal system will pass through Friday night with post-frontal showers on Saturday. Forecast models differ at this time whether the front sweeps through with strong winds and orographic lifting to enhance post-frontal showers along the west slopes of the Cascades or the parent trough digs south along the West Coast and decreases the chances the frontal system is a significant precipitation and wind event. In either scenario, freezing levels will drop heading into the weekend.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | 7500' - 8500' | |
| Friday | Freezing Level | 5500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | 8500' - 9500' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4500' | 3000' - 5000' | 3500' - 5500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 8500' |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 5500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1500' - 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.
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 25, 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.