Issued: 2:05 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Sunday

After a weak front passed through the Cascades this morning, the trailing cold upper low off the tip of Vancouver Island continues to spin convective showers into the region this afternoon. Widespread shower activity should wane but not completely end overnight.

On Tuesday, the upper low will have drifted south off the central Washington coast. With a cold air mass overhead and strong March heating, convective showers should once again build in the afternoon. Instability indexes are slightly higher on Tuesday, indicating that there's a chance a thunderstorm and that heavier showers may contain graupel. While snow levels remain low, an extended pause in shower activity or a sunbreak will easily allow temperatures at lower elevation sites to bump up above freezing. Winds over Washington state will be lighter on Tuesday, so showers will drift rather than race across the mountains, allowing heavier showers to linger over areas for longer. Unlike Monday, showers should develop on both sides of the Cascade crest. 

Showers will wind down once again Tuesday night. We'll be on the backside of the upper level trough on Wednesday. Depending how quickly the trough exits to the intermountain West, we should squeeze out one more day of instability showers although the shower activity looks lighter and more scattered. Onshore westerly flow will increase on Wednesday, supplying low-level clouds along the west slopes of the Cascades. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light snow showers near Washington Pass this evening tapering off after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight. Light and variable winds at Pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Evening Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Monday Night Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30
Monday Night S 0 - 10 S 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning S 0 - 10 S 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening SW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning S 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night S 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening W 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 5 - 15
Monday Night S 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning S 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night S 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning S 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 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
Monday Evening W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 30 - 40
Monday Night W 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 10 - 20
Monday Night SW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening W 25 - 35
Monday Night SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Morning W 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 20 - 30
Monday Night SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 30 - 40
Monday Night WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

Wednesday night looks rather dry as a shortwave ridge moves over the area. On Thursday, an ill-defined warm frontal feature moves over the top of a flattened ridge, with precipitation developing along the west slopes of the Cascades and Olympics, heaviest near the Canadian border.  A more active pattern looks likely to continue Friday and into the weekend, but forecast models are far from certain how the storm cadence will play out later this week.  

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1000' - 2000' 1000' - 2000'
Thursday Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Friday Snow Level
3000' - 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 22, 2020

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