Mountain Weather Forecast

Weather Synopsis

Radar imagery nicely depicts the southerly flow direction of a few scattered showers at low levels and WNW stratiform precipitation just offshore as a sharp warm front approaches the near-shore waters. This warm front will brush the Olympics during the evening, spreading into the Mt. Baker area during the early morning hours. Increasing S winds will accompany the front, along with very light rain/snow, and significant warming. Overnight lows in many areas west of the Cascade Crest will be during the evening hours with temperatures warming overnight. The exception will be east of the Cascade Crest where the cold, stable air mass will settle into valley locations. Increasing E winds will suck that colder air through the mountain gaps with ridgeline and pass-level winds increasing into the moderate range by Thursday morning.

The warm front lingers near the Canadian Border on Thursday with mostly light rain and snow remaining over the northern Cascades and Olympics. The exception will be areas of the Mt. Baker region favored by southerly flow, which will squeeze out moderate amounts of rain/snow as snow levels rise to around 4000 ft. Very light snow could also develop with upslope flow along the east slopes of the Cascades north of I-90. As the front continues to lift north, expect freezing levels in the central and southern Washington Cascades to rise to 5000-8000 ft by the afternoon, with clouds early in the day giving way to increasing sunshine.

The trailing cold front spreads precipitation into the Olympics late in the day with light to moderate rain and snow Thursday night along with moderate to strong S winds in favored locations such as Mt. Baker as the front moves through after midnight.

Precipitation tapers to light showers with the trailing trough. snow levels drop to 2500-3000 ft typical - typical snow levels for February.