Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Friday & Wednesday
Friday brings us one final mild and spring-like day before active weather moves back into the region.
Freezing levels on Friday generally range from 6000 ft in the north to 9000 ft in the south. Some inversion conditions and have been producing patchy low-level fog. Clouds ahead of the next system should approach gradually from NW to SE with mid-level clouds arriving initially gradually thickening.
The next frontal system spins up off the coast of Vancouver Island and should move into the Olympics by the end of the day Friday, bringing increasing generally SSW winds ahead of the front and some light rain and high elevation snow to Hurricane Ridge and Mt. Baker by the end of the day. Rain and snow spread throughout the region and ramp up Friday evening as snow levels plummet the cold frontal passage. Winds shift more westerly and intensify through the passes as post-frontal snow kicks in overnight with moderate to occasionally strong 5000 ft W winds and snow levels down around 2000 ft.
Post-frontal snow showers continue on Saturday with the upper-level trough digging in over the region. Some convergence activity should be expected in the central Cascades from late Friday night through Saturday, but the timing, location and intensity are difficult to predict.
By the end of the day on Friday, we expect 6-12" of snow for the Cascade Passes with 12-16" for Mt. Baker, Paradise, and Mt. Hood.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday | Increasing mid-level clouds, lowering and thickening in the afternoon with rain and high elevation snow developing in the late afternoon hours. Mild. Increasing light winds at 5000 ft becoming moderate in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday | Increasing mid-level clouds, lowering and thickening in the afternoon with rain and high elevation snow developing by the end of the day. Increasing moderate winds at 5000 ft. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday | Sunny early with increasing mid-level clouds, initially in the north and then shifting southward. Clouds thickening in the afternoon. Inversion mixing in the morning and yielding to unseasonably mild conditions. Increasing moderate crest-level winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday | Sunny early with increasing mid-level clouds in the morning with mostly cloudy skies in the afternoon as clouds thicken. Mild with an inversion mixing out in the morning. Variable wind through the passes becoming light to moderate out of the west from late morning onwards. Increasing moderate crest-level winds becoming moderate to strong late in the day. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday | Sunny early with increasing mid-level clouds in the morning with mostly cloudy skies in the afternoon as clouds thicken. Mild with an inversion mixing out in the morning. Increasing moderate crest-level winds becoming moderate to strong late in the day. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday | Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Unseasonably mild. Increasing 5000 ft winds becoming moderate from mid-morning onwards. |
Issued: 7:12 AM PST Friday, February 28, 2020
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 | 6000' | 4500' | 4500' | 6500' | 5500' | 6500' | 7000' | 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 7000' | 6500' | 7000' | 7500' | 8500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 2500' | 3500' | 4500' | 5000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 9000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' |
| 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
| Friday | Friday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday | 0 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | 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: 7:12 AM PST Friday, February 28, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 | S 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 55 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 35 - 45 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | SW 40 - 55 | SW 40 - 55 | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 55 | W 40 - 50 | W 40 - 50 | W 35 - 45 | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Evening | SW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Night | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Evening | SW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 35 - 45 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Evening | WSW 45 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
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 27, 2020
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