Issued: 2:47 PM PDT Saturday, April 13, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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 Monday

Winter-like weather continues through the weekend with a pattern for modest post-frontal snow production in place with W flow and cooling aloft. On Saturday afternoon a front is crossing western Washington, bringing winds ahead of it, a slight bump in temperatures, moderate snow to some locations. The front should pass most areas of the Cascades by the end of the day on Saturday. Saturday night, precipitation should become showery winds will shift WSW. Cooler air will arrive with snow levels dropping to well below Snoqualmie Pass level. Post-frontal snow showers will be relatively sustained along the west slopes of Cascades with convergence bands of snow forming from around Stevens Pass to the Mountain loop area from late evening on Saturday through the day on Sunday with little change in the overall pattern as the upper trough skirts to the north of the area through British Columbia.

The moist westerly flow is expected to gradually decrease late Sunday through Sunday night with light shower activity decreasing through the period.

On Monday, a weak open low will move toward Oregon, leaving most areas under mostly dry skies with increased cloud cover and some light snow showers in the southern Washington and Mt. Hood Cascades. 

Temperatures should remain below seasonal norms throughout the forecast period.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Cloudy with slightly increasing light snow showers. Cool. Moderate winds.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Cool. Moderate winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Light snow showers near the Cascade Crest with clearer skies possible away from the Cascade Crest. Cool. Moderate winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Light to moderate snow showers (heaviest in convergence; most likely developing in the Stevens Pass area. Moderate to strong 5000 ft winds with moderate W winds at pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Moderate snow early at Paradise will decrease and become light snow showers; Light snow showers for White Pass; very light snow showers generally at Crystal. Cool. Moderate winds.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Moderate snow showers in the evening becoming light after midnight. Cool. Strong 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 3000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 30 - 45
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 30 - 45
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 30 - 45
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 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 SW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 50 W 35 - 50 W 40 - 60 WSW 45 - 65
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35 W 40 - 60 W 30 - 45 W 35 - 50 W 45 - 65
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 30 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Saturday Night W 40 - 60
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 35 - 50
Saturday Night W 30 - 45
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 40 - 60
Saturday Night W 35 - 50
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 45 - 65
Saturday Night W 45 - 65
Sunday Morning W 30 - 45
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

The weak trough should drift SE Monday night allowing the southern Cascades to temporarily mostly dry out. A weak frontal system is expected to arrive in the area late Tuesday into Tuesday night, bringing light rain and snow at warmer temperatures and higher snow levels. The weak system is expected to depart late in the day with a stronger system offshore.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 3500'
Tuesday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
3500' - 3500'
Tuesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4500' - 6500'

* 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 13, 2019

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.