Issued: 2:31 PM PDT Sunday, April 14, 2019
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 Sunday night through Friday

Although it's the last morning mountain weather forecast of the 2018-2019 winter season, the mountains are still experiencing winter-like conditions. Cool, westerly flow and snow shower activity lingers in a subtle trough behind a departed frontal system. This flow pattern should continue to produce light accumulating snow for most areas near and west of the Cascade Crest through the evening hours, with minimal spillover onto the east slopes. Snow shower activity has been enhanced by a weak disturbance moving through on the westerly flow on Sunday afternoon. The snow shower activity should remain weakly convective through the evening hours with the most snow shower activity from the Mountain Loop to Mt. Rainier. Convergence activity may be locally moderately strong, but convergence zones are expected to wander north and south within the central Washington Cascades. 0.25" or less of snow is expected in most areas. Shower activity should decrease and end by around midnight as an open low approaches the Oregon near-shore waters, ending the moist westerly flow.

Clouds and very light precipitation from the open low should spread into Oregon and possibly the southern Washington volcanoes late in the day on Monday. As the low continues to drift into the Great Basin Monday night, light precipitation is expected to remain in generally same areas with fair weather in most other areas.

Tuesday there may be a gap ahead of the next storm or clouds might begin increasing immediately.

NWAC Spring 2019 Forecast Schedule: Daily Mountain Weather Forecasts, issued only in the afternoons, will continue through April 28th.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Light snow showers in the early evening should end, giving way to mostly cloudy skies with a chance of an isolated snow shower. Cool. Light winds.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with very light snow showers. Cool. Light winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with chances of isolated snow showers near the Cascade Crest. Cool. Decreasing light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Weakly convective snow showers with potential for moderate convergence zones from just south of Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass. Precipitation tapers by midnight, leaving cloudy skies. Cool. Light winds at 5000 ft and light W wind through the passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Weakly convective snow showers decreasing and generally ending during the evening hours. Becoming mostly cloudy. Cool. Light winds.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Decreasing light snow showers. Cool. Moderate winds gusting strong.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Snow Level 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level 4500' 4000' 5000' 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level 3500' 2000' 3500' 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 5000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 3500' 3000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning E 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Monday Morning E 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon VAR 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning SE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Monday Morning E 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening SW 5 - 15
Sunday Night SW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon VAR 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning SE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 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
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning W 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 15 - 25
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon S 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

A weak front should cross the region Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with a ridge building late in the day into Wednesday night with freezing levels rising to near 10000 ft! A warm moist system of uncertain strength is expected to move into the region from the NW on Thursday bringing warm rain and gradually lowering snow levels.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 5500' 4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Snow Level 4500' - 5500' 4500' - 5500' 5500' - 7500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' 7000' - 9000' 9500' - 11500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
Thursday Snow Level
7000' - 8000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
7000' - 9000'
Thursday Snow Level
7000' - 9000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Snow Level
5500' - 7500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
9500' - 11500'
Thursday Snow Level
9000' - 10000'

* 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 Apr 14, 2019

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.