Issued: 2:14 PM PDT Monday, March 30, 2020
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 Monday night through Wednesday

A strong front emanating from a low pressure system off the central coast of British Columbia passed through the Cascades around 8 am Monday morning. After a burst of heavier precipitation, steady convective showers have rotated inland. Snow levels dropped behind the front and moderate snowfall continues to accumulate mainly over the Olympics, west slopes of the Cascades and at Mt. Hood on Monday afternoon.  Mt. Baker has picked up over 4' of snow along over the last 48 hours. 

For tonight, snow showers will continue through this evening before waning but not ending into the morning hours. Winds have already begun to back off over the north Cascades, cut-off from the stronger winds closer to the jet stream aimed into central Oregon. Winds will ease from north to south tonight, staying strongest over Mt. Hood closest to the jet. The upper low will shift south along the coast and closer to the Canadian border on Tuesday. A surface trough rotating inland in the afternoon, an unseasonably cold air mass, and daytime heating will allow widespread shower activity to spark up tomorrow afternoon. Showers look heaviest in the Mt. Hood area Tuesday. Showers will do their diurnal swoon, continuing into the evening and once again slowly tapering off overnight and becoming more scattered.

On Wednesday, the base of the longwave trough will begin to shift inland, leaving us with another lifting mechanism to help daytime shower activity in our cold unstable air mass. There's a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoons both Tuesday and especially Wednesday. As typical for this time of year, you may see some graupel in heavier showers. Showers should make more headway along the eastern slopes of the Cascades on Wednesday as the steering flow becomes lighter out of the NW. Temperatures and freezing levels will be unseasonably cold over the next several days. Expect snow levels to fall to near sea level during the overnights. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers becoming scattered light snow showers after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers becoming scattered light to occasionally moderate showers after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night Light to snow showers near the Cascade crest becoming scattered light snow showers after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers becoming scattered light to occasionally moderate showers after midnight. Moderate west winds at Pass level becoming light.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers becoming scattered light to occasionally moderate showers after midnight. Strong winds easing overnight.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night Light to moderate snow showers. Very strong winds.

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' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 500' 500' 0' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
0'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
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
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'

* 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 Wednesday Wednesday Night Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 0.50 0.25 LT 0.25
1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 1.00
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Monday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning W 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening SW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning W 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 10 - 20
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning W 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 15 - 25
Monday Night WSW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning W 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 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
Monday Evening SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 40 - 50
Monday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 45 - 55
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 15 - 25
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning W 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening SW 20 - 30
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning W 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Monday Night WSW 20 - 30
Tuesday Morning W 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Monday Night WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Morning W 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WSW 40 - 50
Monday Night WSW 45 - 55
Tuesday Morning W 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon W 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

The cool and showery pattern shows no signs of letting up through the end of the week. Weak upper level disturbances rotating out from the quasi-stationary upper low parked over Alberta will help drive up the afternoon/evening shower coverage over the region. Cool NW flow aloft will prevent temperatures from moderating significantly as we head into early April. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 1000'
Thursday Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500' 2500' - 3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Thursday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Thursday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 500'
Friday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Thursday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Friday 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 29, 2020

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