Issued: 1:57 PM PDT Saturday, March 28, 2020
by Dallas Glass

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 Thursday

Two separate weather systems will impact the Northwest over the short-term period maintaining wet and breezy conditions in the mountains. You could experience a brief break in the action Sunday afternoon/early evening. This may be your best chance to see a few periods of blue sky, but any break looks shortlived.

Weather models struggled the last few days to predict how a series of shortwave disturbances would impact the mountains. In general, conditions were much drier than anticipated. Due to this recent trend, there's a bit of uncertainty in the immediate short-term forecast. The last of these disturbances will move through the region Saturday night bringing another opportunity for rain and snow showers to the mountains. The best chance of meaningful precipitation looks centered around the volcanoes where the large mountains can capture and ring-out additional moisture. Anticipate showers, with moderate to occasionally strong winds in most areas. Rain and snow could linger around locations west of the Cascade crest Sunday morning, before a brief break later in the afternoon. 

The bigger story in the short-term forecast comes with a well-developed low-pressure system dropping down the coast of British Columbia Sunday night and Monday. This storm will combine with a strong westerly jet-stream to focus several rounds of snow at the mountains. The system draws in cooler air and sends snow levels on a downward slide to around 2500' by late Sunday night. Precipitation seems to spill over the mountains Monday morning, bringing a period of consistent rain and snow to areas further east. Precipitation could be heavy at times as the brunt of the storm swings over the area. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Cloudy with light rain and snow showers. Moderate southwesterly winds.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow. Strong southerly winds decreasing slightly overnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy with rain and snow showers particularly near Washington Pass and the Cascade Crest. Light to moderate southwesterly winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow showers. Light and variable pass-level winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow showers. Heaviest near the volcanoes.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Cloudy with rain and snow showers. Moderate southerly winds.

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 4500' 3500' 4500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level 4000' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level * 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday 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

Saturday Night Thursday Thursday Night Thursday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.75
Washington Pass 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Stevens Pass 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 0.50
Paradise 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00
0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0.75 -1.00
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.75
Thursday 0.50 - 0.75
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.75 -1.00
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.75 -1.00
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.75 -1.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20 S 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening S 20 - 30
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening W 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening S 20 - 30
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 15 - 25
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25

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 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 35 - 45 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 30 - 40
Saturday Night SW 35 - 45
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 30 - 40
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning WSW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

The low-pressure system responsible for the rain and snow Monday stalls out near the British Columbia coastline and becomes the dominant feature in our long-term forecast. The low continues to draw moisture off the Pacific and spin bands of showers into the Northwest. This should create periods of concentrated rain and snow, with short-lived breaks in between. As the low slowly meanders inland Tuesday night and Wednesday, it loses its ability to keep the faucet flowing, shower activity decreases, and conditions slowly begin to dry. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level 1000' - 2500' 1500' - 2500' 1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level 1000' - 2500' 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 500' - 2000' 1000' - 2500' 1000' - 3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500' - 2000'
Wednesday Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Wednesday Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level
2000' - 3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 3000'
Wednesday Snow Level
1500' - 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.

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 27, 2020

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