Issued: 2:35 PM PDT Wednesday, April 1, 2020
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Saturday

The weather pattern becomes somewhat less active moving forward. A region of low pressure remains centered over western Canada and continues to impact our region with cooler than average temperatures leading to weak instability at this juncture in early April.

Upper-level flow turns from light N to NW overnight. Scattered snow showers that built up during diurnal heating Wednesday and enhanced by a dying circulation center over NW Oregon should diminish Wednesday evening leaving partially clearing skies Wednesday night. 

A disturbance rotating around the larger low arrives Wednesday afternoon to enhance light snow shower activity. Expect more sunshine first thing in the morning than in the mid-day or afternoon hours with a weak enhancement of westerly flow enhancing clouds and isolated shower activity slightly along the west slopes of the Cascades and Passes. Snow shower activity lingers with light W flow Thursday night as the disturbance shifts east.

Another slightly stronger disturbance arriving should bring increasing light snowfall on Friday to the north and central Cascades near and west of the Cascade. Winds also increase, perhaps reaching the moderate range for areas exposed to westerly flow such as Snoqualmie Pass and exposed ridges east of the Cascade Crest. Isolated strong gusts are possible.

Snow levels remain in the 1000-3000 ft range with a diurnal signal throughout the period. The main change is that as flow switches more westerly on Thursday, the east slopes of the Cascades should experience slightly warmer days Thursday and Friday.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Wednesday Night Mostly clear.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy with decreasing isolated snow showers in the evening; skies clearing after midnight with some clouds lingering near the Cascade Crest.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy with decreasing isolated snow showers in the evening. Partial clearing after midnight. Light W winds becoming variable through the Passes. Light 5000 ft winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Wednesday Night Isolated snow showers tapering through the evening hours, then partial clearing.
Mt. Hood
Wednesday Night Scattered snow showers tapering through the evening hours, then remaining mostly cloudy.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening Snow Level 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 1000' 500' 1000' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
1000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Evening NW 0 - 10 N 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 WNW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 WSW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SSW 0 - 10 SSW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Evening NW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Evening N 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning W 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening N 0 - 10
Wednesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning W 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20

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 Evening W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NNW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night SW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Evening NNW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning W 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday

The long-range weather pattern looks relatively quiet. Friday night, the disturbance exits and a weak ridging moves into the region as lingering snow showers end. Models tend to show a mostly dry day on Saturday with potential clouds and light snow shower activity spinning in from low-pressure regions offshore and over California. The offshore low moves southeast toward California and should spin in some light snow showers Saturday night and Sunday, but amounts should be very light. Temperatures should moderate slightly Saturday through Sunday leaving us near seasonal norms.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Friday Night Snow Level 0' - 1000' 500' - 1500' 2000' - 3000'
Saturday Freezing Level 2500' - 4500' 2500' - 4500' 3000' - 4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Saturday Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Saturday Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Saturday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Snow Level
2500' - 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.

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 31, 2020

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