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 Saturday
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. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with light snow showers near Washington Pass this evening tapering off after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon for all areas. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
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. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Light and variable winds at Pass level becoming light westerlies in the afternoon. |
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. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Mostly cloudy with light to occasionally moderate snow showers this evening becoming scattered light showers after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers in the morning increasing and becoming light to occasionally moderate showers in the afternoon. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:05 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2020
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' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| 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 | Saturday | Saturday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Timberline | 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Saturday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 2:05 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2020
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 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| 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 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 10 - 20 |
| 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 |
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.
Issued: 2:05 PM PDT Monday, March 23, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Saturday
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' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' |
| 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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