Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Wednesday
A broad ridge of high pressure leaves the Pacific Northwest warmer than average through Friday morning with the jetstream to our north. Freezing levels are slightly milder than average in the north and significantly milder in the south with little difference in temperature across the Cascades. Mt. Hood should see freezing levels around 9000-9500 ft. A moild, mostly clear night should be followed by mostly clear skies giving way to increasing clouds by Friday afternoon as a reasonably sharp cold front approaches. The front should spread light rain and snow into the Hurricane Ridge and Mt. Baker areas by the end of the day.
A band of moderate rain and snow associated with the cold front crosses the region Friday evening, with rapidly lowering snow levels and moderate SW winds. Snow should start as rain the passes, but lower below Snoqualmie Pass level by late evening. Moderate post-frontal snow continues overnight throughout the Cascades as the trough digs in over the region overnight and shift the moderate winds westerly.
The upper trough lingers over the region on Saturday. Snow showers gradually decrease in the light to moderate range and increasingly focused on convergence bands which gradually trend south from the central Cascades toward the Mt. Rainier area during the day on Saturday. Temperatures should be cool with snow levels around 2000 ft.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. |
| Friday | Increasing high clouds in the morning with clouds lowering and thickening in the afternoon. Light rain or snow should develop by late in the day. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Fog possible in deeper valleys. |
| Friday | Increasing high clouds in the morning with clouds lowering and thickening in the afternoon. Light rain or snow should develop by the end of the day. Light to moderate 5000 ft winds in the morning becoming light to moderate. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Fog possible in deeper valleys. |
| Friday | Increasing high clouds in the morning with clouds lowering late in the day. Gradually increasing moderate crest-level winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Fog possible in deeper valleys. |
| Friday | Increasing high clouds in the morning with clouds lowering and thickening in the afternoon. Light to moderate 5000 ft winds in the morning becoming moderate. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Very mild. Fog possible in deeper valleys. |
| Friday | Increasing high clouds in the morning with clouds lowering and thickening in the afternoon. Light 5000 ft winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Very mild. Fog possible in deeper valleys. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny into the early afternoon, then clouds increasing and lowering late in the day. |
Issued: 2:25 PM PST Thursday, February 27, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | Freezing Level | 6000' | 5000' | 5500' | 7000' | 6000' | 6500' | 7000' | 9000' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 4500' | 4500' | 6000' | 4500' | 6500' | 6500' | 9500' |
| Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 6000' | 4000' | 3500' | 5000' | 4500' | 6000' | 6000' | 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' | 6000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6500' | 7500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 2500' | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
* 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
| Thursday Night | Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
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: 2:25 PM PST Thursday, February 27, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SSW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 55 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 50 | WSW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 55 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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.
Issued: 2:25 PM PST Thursday, February 27, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday
Saturday night, winds shift northerly or NNEerly as a ridge edges into British Columbia with snow showers generally ending. On Sunday, some low-level moisture may linger in the morning with mid-level moisture arriving late in the day ahead of a more powerful system riding down the back of an offshore ridge. This should bring rain and snow on a strong warming trend Sunday night and Monday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | 500' - 1500' | |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 0' - 1500' | 0' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 500' - 2500' | 1000' - 3000' | 1500' - 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 0' - 1500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 2000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 500' - 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 0' - 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 1500' - 3000' |
* 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 27, 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.