Issued: 6:53 AM PST Sunday, March 1, 2020
by Dallas Glass

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Sunday & Monday

Well, things are shaping up to be a downright gorgeous day in the mountains Sunday. Most areas this morning are seeing sunny skies with a few low clouds in the mountain valleys and passes. This trend should continue for most locations throughout the day. Look for mostly sunny skies, light winds, and warming temperatures. Clouds will creep into the region this afternoon ahead of the next weather system in areas north of I90. Don't forget your sunscreen if you're heading out into the hills today. 

Our sunny weather will be short-lived as the first in a series of storms approaches the area Monday night. Clouds will increase and thicken as showers eventually spread from north to south. This system hangs up on the Cascade crest with only a few isolated sprinkles making it further east. Initially, cold air keeps all the precipitation as snow. That changes as the bulk of the storm arrives Monday morning and snow levels begin to march upward. This first system doesn't bring much in the way of moisture. Its biggest impacts come from warm temperatures and increasing winds. Several locations should see strong winds by Monday afternoon. There may be a brief break in the action late in the day, but the second storm follows hot on the heels of the first maintaining a warm, wet, and wind pattern. 

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
Sunday Morning Freezing Level 1500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level 4000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'

* 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

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.25
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 0 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 LT 0.25
0 0 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 NW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WNW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30
Sunday Night WNW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 NW 25 - 35
Monday Morning W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 WNW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night WNW 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Morning NW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 20 - 30
Sunday Night NW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night WNW 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Sunday Evening W 20 - 30
Sunday Night NW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon WNW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 N 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 NW 20 - 30 NW 15 - 25 N 10 - 20
Sunday Evening NW 30 - 40 NW 25 - 35 NW 40 - 55 NW 35 - 45 NNW 30 - 40
Sunday Night NW 40 - 55 NW 40 - 55 NW 50 - 65 NW 50 - 65 NNW 45 - 60
Monday Morning NW 35 - 45 NW 35 - 45 NW 45 - 60 NW 45 - 60 NNW 40 - 55
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Sunday Evening NW 30 - 40
Sunday Night NW 40 - 55
Monday Morning NW 35 - 45
Monday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Sunday Evening NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night NW 40 - 55
Monday Morning NW 35 - 45
Monday Afternoon WNW 35 - 45
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Sunday Evening NW 40 - 55
Sunday Night NW 50 - 65
Monday Morning NW 45 - 60
Monday Afternoon NW 45 - 60
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Sunday Evening NW 35 - 45
Sunday Night NW 50 - 65
Monday Morning NW 45 - 60
Monday Afternoon NW 40 - 55
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Morning N 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon N 10 - 20
Sunday Evening NNW 30 - 40
Sunday Night NNW 45 - 60
Monday Morning NNW 40 - 55
Monday Afternoon NNW 35 - 45

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 29, 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.