Issued: 1:52 PM PDT Sunday, April 7, 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 Sunday night through Tuesday

The next frontal wave developing along the quasi-stationary frontal boundary that has been delivering significant moisture to the Mt. Hood area with light to moderate amounts for the Washington Cascades will arrive tonight. Another 1"+ of water is possible for Mt. Hood stations through Monday morning. Snow levels that slipped back down to 6000' this afternoon at Mt. Hood should rise again overnight with another round of strong winds as warm front moisture moves over the area. 

What's a bit different about this round (the recent poor forecast confidence remains the same), is that the parent upper level trough will dig offshore, allowing the surface low to track along the Washington Coast on Monday, and cut-off the frontal boundary from its moisture source. The upshot is the light rain and snow should spread into the southern Washington Cascades overnight with showers spreading into all regions during the day on Monday as the low weakens and moves inland. This should keep mainly cloudy conditions in place on Monday. 

 Showers should taper down Monday night with a broad upper level trough moving inland and weak ridging building offshore. Moderate onshore flow on Tuesday along with weak upper level ridging offshore should translate into cool, cloudy conditions for the west slopes of the Cascades, Olympics and Mt. Hood with showers likely. Sunnier and drier conditions are likely further east of the Cascade crest in this pattern.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy overnight with a chance of light rain and snow after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy, becoming cloudy late.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Partly to mostly cloudy, becoming cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow Leavenworth area late.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight with light rain and snow developing late. Light east wind at Pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow developing after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. Becoming very windy overnight. Slight warming trend.

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 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 7000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 7500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 4501' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 6000' 7000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 5000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 6000' 7000'
Monday Evening Snow Level 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5500'
Monday Night Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
4501'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Monday Night Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Monday Night Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
7500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
7000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Monday Night Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening SE 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 S 10 - 20
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SE 0 - 10 SE 10 - 20 SSW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning SE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening S 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening SE 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning SE 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SE 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening S 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 25 - 35
Monday Morning SW 10 - 20
Monday 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 35 - 45
Sunday Night S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30 SW 40 - 50 SW 50 - 60
Monday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 35 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Night S 10 - 20
Monday Morning SW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night S 10 - 20
Monday Morning SW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 20 - 30
Monday Morning SW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening SW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SW 40 - 50
Monday Morning SW 30 - 40
Monday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening SW 35 - 45
Sunday Night SW 50 - 60
Monday Morning SW 35 - 45
Monday Afternoon SW 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

Broad upper level ridging amplifying well offshore will change the upper level flow pattern to NW flow aloft. This should allow a series of quick moving disturbances to move through the Pacific Northwest starting Wednesday and potentially lasting through next weekend. This pattern should produce a fair amount of precipitation for the west slopes of the Cascades, particularly the central Cascades. No surprise as of late - details in timing and strength of individual weather systems is poor. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Thursday Snow Level
4000' - 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.

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 7, 2019

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