Issued: 2:51 PM PDT Saturday, April 27, 2019
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 Saturday night through Friday

This is the last Mountain Weather Forecast of the 2018-19 season. Thanks for a great season! 

The calendar may say late April but it feels like winter in the mountains this weekend. Several inches of snow fell along the west slopes of the Cascades above 4000' Saturday as temperatures struggled to climb above freezing. The pattern won't change much over the next few days as we stay on the backside of a cold upper level trough carved out over B.C and the Pacific Northwest. Scattered showers left over from convergence zones this evening should taper off with skies clearing out overnight. Moderate NW alpine winds will also decrease overnight. 

After a sunny start to Sunday, increasing instability will allow for showers to build during the afternoon hours, primarily closer to the cold upper low over the north and central Washington Cascades. The steering flow will be weaker than Saturday, so expect the showers to be stationary or to slowly drift S-SW. There may be enough instability to support a few thunderstorms over these same areas Sunday afternoon. The southern Washington Cascades will likely experience less shower coverage while the Olympics and Mt. Hood area should only see afternoon cumulus. Once again, skies should clear Sunday night. 

A similar pattern looks likely for Monday although there is lower confidence which areas will see the most shower activity Monday afternoon. Monday may also be slightly more unstable and present a better chance for afternoon thunderstorms. 

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with a slight chance of a light rain or snow shower in the evening, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers in the evening, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers in the evening, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers, locally moderate near the convergence zone this evening, becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain or snow showers, locally moderate near the convergence zone this evening, becoming mostly clear late tonight.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers in the evening, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Windy.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening Snow Level 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level 3000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level 4000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 6000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening NW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Night N 5 - 15 N 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NNW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 0 - 10 NE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 NE 0 - 10 NE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening NW 5 - 15
Saturday Night N 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Night N 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening NW 10 - 20
Saturday Night NW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning E 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening NW 10 - 20
Saturday Night NNW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning NE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Night NW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 5 - 15
Saturday Night N 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Night N 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 10 - 20
Saturday Night NW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning E 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 10 - 20
Saturday Night NNW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning NE 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon N 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Night NW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 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
Saturday Evening N 25 - 35 NW 30 - 40 NW 25 - 35 NW 25 - 35 NW 25 - 35
Saturday Night N 20 - 30 N 20 - 30 N 20 - 30 N 20 - 30 N 15 - 25
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20 N 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening N 25 - 35
Saturday Night N 20 - 30
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 30 - 40
Saturday Night N 20 - 30
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 25 - 35
Saturday Night N 20 - 30
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 25 - 35
Saturday Night N 20 - 30
Sunday Morning NE 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening NW 25 - 35
Saturday Night N 15 - 25
Sunday Morning N 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon NE 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

The upper level trough will finally exit as it pushes into the Great Basin Monday night and allows shortwave upper level ridging to build over the area on Tuesday. There is a slight chance of afternoon showers on Tuesday, but there should be fewer clouds/showers as freezing levels bump up a notch. Wednesday looks similar to Tuesday with mainly dry conditions forecast as the next trough upstream in northerly flow aloft approaches the Pacific Northwest. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000'
Tuesday Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' 6000' - 7000' 6500' - 7500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 5500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Tuesday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Freezing Level
6000' - 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Tuesday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'

* 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 26, 2019

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