Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Sunday
Cooler conditions worked into the region overnight on a decreasing post-frontal westerly flow with snow levels dropping below and remaining below pass levels today. Winds continue to be the biggest story with this system. Strong W winds continue into the morning hours for exposed ridgetop locations east of the Cascade Crest (such as Mission Ridge), but these winds should decrease into the moderate range over the next few hours. Moderate winds gusting strong through the mountain passes (down to pass level) should also ease through the morning.
Light snow shower continues to gradually wind down Wednesday morning. A Puget sound convergence zone is breaking apart as it edges south into the Snoqualmie Pass corridor where up to 2" of snow are possible down to below pass level. A weaker Vancouver Island convergence should bring some slightly higher snowfall intensities to southern Skagit counties. Elsewhere, expect around a trace of additional snowfall.
A weak ridge moves over the region this evening. A mostly dry warm front ahead of the next system brings strongly warming temperatures Wednesday night for Mt. Hood and areas west of the Cascade Crest. The temperature and associated pressure gradient set up light to moderate E flow Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
A digging trough offshore slows the approaching cold front which spreads increasing light to moderate rain and snow to the Olympics and then Mt. Baker areas on Thursday, with a cooling trend in those areas. Other areas should be cloudy and mild with snow levels pushing well above Snoqualmie pass level in the afternoon
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday | Isolated snow flurries are possible in the morning with partly cloudy skies throughout the day. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy skies in the morning with decreasing very light snow showers. Partly cloudy in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday | Decreasing clouds this morning with isolated snow flurries in the morning near the Cascade Crest and more sustained light snow in convergence spillover east of Snoqualmie Pass. Mostly sunny in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday | Light to moderate snow until mid-morning at Snoqualmie with very light snow showers at Stevens tapering off. Then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate W winds through the Passes and at 5000 ft becoming light from late morning onwards. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday | Mostly cloudy skies with very light snow flurry activity, then partly cloudy and dry from mid-morning onwards. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday | Partly cloudy with isolated snow flurries through mid-morning, then more clouds than sun. |
Issued: 7:03 AM PST Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening | Freezing Level * | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' | 7500' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 1500' | 2500' | 1500' | 2500' | 3500' | 7000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 4000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5500' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
* 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
| Wednesday | Wednesday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 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: 7:03 AM PST Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 | SSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 | SSE 10 - 20 | SSE 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 | S 25 - 35 | SSE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 | S 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | S 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 45 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 | SSW 35 - 45 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 55 | SW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 50 - 65 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 40 - 55 | SW 45 - 65 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 50 - 65 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 40 - 55 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Morning | SW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 45 - 65 |
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 Mar 3, 2020
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