Issued: 7:03 AM PST Saturday, January 4, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Sunday

A strong front blew through the Cascades early this morning and snow levels have dropped into the 1500-2000 ft range. Roughly 4-12 inches of snow has accumulated along the Olympics, Mt. Hood, and the west slopes of the Cascades with lower amounts east of the Cascade crest. The highest totals closest to a foot can be found at Mt. Baker (manual observation as the 24 hr board is out), Paradise and the top of Alpental.  West winds continue to be strong at many locations following the front. Post-frontal showers should continue today with gusty westerly winds slowly tapering down in the afternoon. It's hard to say who will see some sunbreaks this afternoon other than the areas further east of the Cascade crest and perhaps the Hurricane Ridge area. Disorganized convergence bands may locally enhance snowfall totals in the mountain loop to Stevens Pass corridor today.  

Showers should become lighter and more scattered tonight as snow levels remain cool. A front approaching the area from the west on Sunday should spread light snow inland during the day. Snowfall amounts seem modest at best as the front passes through in the early afternoon but there should be another significant uptick in wind prior to and following the frontal passage. A stronger system is on tap for Monday. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 25 - 35 W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 S 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Saturday Evening W 15 - 25
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning S 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Saturday Evening W 15 - 25
Saturday Night S 5 - 15
Sunday Morning S 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning S 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 30 - 40

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 Morning W 45 - 55 W 50 - 60 W 50 - 60 W 45 - 55 W 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50 W 45 - 55 W 40 - 50 WSW 40 - 50 W 40 - 50
Saturday Evening SW 30 - 40 WSW 40 - 50 WSW 40 - 50 WSW 30 - 40 W 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Saturday Evening SW 30 - 40
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon W 45 - 55
Saturday Evening WSW 40 - 50
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon SW 40 - 50
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Saturday Evening WSW 40 - 50
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 30 - 40
Sunday Afternoon W 45 - 55
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 45 - 55
Saturday Afternoon WSW 40 - 50
Saturday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Saturday Night SW 30 - 40
Sunday Morning SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 50 - 60
Saturday Afternoon W 40 - 50
Saturday Evening W 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon W 50 - 60

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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Jan 3, 2020

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