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 Saturday
A warm front lingers near the Canadian border Thursday afternoon, while a cold front slows as it rotates due to a digging trough offshore. The cold frontal rain band brings moderate rain and snow to the Olympic mountains and will spread that moisture into the Mt. Baker area, where it should produce heavy snow during the evening hours. The whole package gradually drifts ESE overnight and weakens, moving the diminished precipitation band into the Mt. Hood area early Friday morning. The SSW flow should favor the volcanoes with Mt. Baker, followed by Paradise receiving significantly more moisture than other areas. The Cascade Passes and east slopes should receive the least with around 0.25" of water by mid-day Saturday. Precipitation will mix with rain up to around 4000-5000 ft as the precipitation arrives Thursday evening, but snow levels should lower to Snoqualmie Pass level by morning. Strong to very strong winds at Mt. Baker should decrease rapidly with the frontal passage early Friday evening, but some stong winds should shift to areas east of the Cascade Cascade Crest, areas around Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Hood.
The flow remains out of the southwest as the offshore trough continues to rotate offshore. The light snow band winds down on Friday in some areas but lingers on Mt. Hood as the weakened front hobbles to the ESE. As the cloud shield shifts ESE, the day will become partly cloudy in some areas of northern and central Washington State. Chances for scattered convective snow showers should increase later in the afternoon for the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas.
Friday night, the upper trough continues to brush the Olympics which should receive scattered showers while isolated showers linger across the Cascades.
The splitting trough finally moves onshore on Saturday with the cold air aloft, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with enhanced convective snow and graupel showers, that should be more widespread and heaviest in the afternoon.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Light snow decreasing and ending by late evening. Then partly clearing skies after midnight. Cooling temperatures. |
| Friday | Partly cloudy in the morning with scattered convective snow showers building in the afternoon. Cooler. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Heavy snow in the evening, then moderate snow from 10 PM to 2 AM, then light snow ending in the morning. Strong alpine winds ramping down into the moderate range by late evening. Lowering snow levels. |
| Friday | Partly cloudy with scattered convective snow showers in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Very light rain and snow mainly near the Cascade Crest. Strong winds possible along exposed ridges near Crest Level until midnight. Cooling temperatures. |
| Friday | Very light rain and snow gradually ending from north to south. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Light rain and snow. Snow levels lowering to Snoqualmie Pass level by morning. Light W winds through the Passes. Cooling temperatures. |
| Friday | Light snow becoming very light and ending during the afternoon. Light W winds through the Passes. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Moderate snow at Paradise with light snow at Crystal and White Pass. Strong alpine winds are likely NE of Mt. Rainier in the Crystal vicinity during the evening. Cooling temperatures. |
| Friday | Light snow becoming very light during the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Light rain and snow arriving after midnight. Decreasing strong winds are likely above treeline. Cooling temperatures. |
| Friday | Decreasing light rain and snow ending late in the day. |
Issued: 2:48 PM PST Thursday, March 5, 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 | Snow Level | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 6000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 1000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 3500' | 4000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' | 3500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 500' | 500' | 1500' | 2500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 500' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 1000' | 1500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| 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 | Saturday | Saturday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.75 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
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: 2:48 PM PST Thursday, March 5, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 5 - 15 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 40 - 50 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 40 - 50 | SW 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 45 - 60 |
| Thursday Night | SW 45 - 55 |
| Friday Morning | SW 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 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.
Issued: 2:48 PM PST Thursday, March 5, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
Cool and slightly unsettled weather continues. The trough lingers Saturday night and Sunday with a mix of sunshine and scattered snow shower activity generally peaking during the mid-day and afternoon hours, but becoming increasingly isolated. Sunday night the trough begins to exit east and flow switches northerly on Monday with drier weather Sunday night and ample sunshine on Monday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 500' - 1500' | 500' - 2000' | 1000' - 2500' | |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 0' - 2000' | 500' - 2500' | 1500' - 3500' | |
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 500' - 2500' | 1000' - 3000' | 2500' - 4000' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 500' - 2500' | 1000' - 3000' | 2000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 0' - 2000' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 2500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 500' - 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 2000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 500' - 2500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 3500' |
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' - 4000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 4000' |
* 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 Mar 5, 2020
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