Issued: 2:46 PM PST Sunday, February 16, 2020
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 Sunday night through Sunday

A disturbance moving over the Cascades on Sunday afternoon moves in on a cool, post-frontal, westerly flow, returning snow region after a partial break in the action Sunday morning. Moderate snowfall has been focused on the mountain loop region, with more convective snow continuing to arrive on the coast. Behind the disturbance, atmospheric stability and wind speed conditions are ripe for convergence. Convergence bands are expected to form Sunday evening slightly north of Stevens and perhaps near Snoqualmie before the northern band gradually shifts southward overnight. Forecast models generally between 0.5-1.0" of water (6-15" of snowfall) to the central Cascades during this event with reasonable amounts of snowfall spilling over east of the crest. Paradise and Mt. Hood should also see moderate to heavy snow overnight. The snowfall and convergence activity winds down Monday during the day as drier NW flow and high-pressure work into the region, bringing increasing sunshine to many parts of the Cascades by the afternoon.

Most of the precipitation should be done by Monday night, but some up-sloping with the northerly flow may bring light snow showers to the Hurricane Ridge area. Clearing skies in other areas should bring cold temperatures to many areas Monday night as the ridge amplifies offshore and edges further into the region. The ridge moves eastward on Tuesday and the westerly flow flips easterly as the atmosphere to the west of the Cascade Crest beginning to warm with descending air beneath the high pressure.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Light showers tapering off after midnight with partial clearing.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Light snow in the evening tapering to snow flurries.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Light snow in the evening with light to moderate snow in the east-central region where convergence spills over the crest. Moderate to strong winds in the alpine south of Washington Pass, gradually decreasing.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Bands of moderate to heavy snow in well-defined convergence. Convergence heaviest in the evening for Stevens and possibly in the evening or overnight for Snoqualmie. Gradually decreasing W wind 10-20 mph through the mountain gaps. Moderate to strong winds in the alpine gradually decreasing.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Moderate to heavy snow at Paradise with light to moderate snow at Crystal and White Pass. Snowfall heaviest in the evening. Moderate to strong winds in the alpine gradually decreasing.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Heavy snow. Moderate to strong winds in the alpine gradually decreasing.

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 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level 1000' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 500' 1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 1000' 500' 5000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Monday Night Snow Level 500' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 0' 1000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level * 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25 W 5 - 15 W 20 - 30 W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30
Monday Morning W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WNW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening W 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening W 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening W 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Monday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 5 - 15
Sunday Night WSW 5 - 15
Monday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 20 - 30
Monday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15

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 W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 45
Sunday Night WNW 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 20 - 30 W 35 - 45
Monday Morning W 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 25 - 35 NW 20 - 30 N 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night WNW 10 - 20
Monday Morning W 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 15 - 25
Sunday Night WNW 15 - 25
Monday Morning NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 30 - 40
Sunday Night WNW 25 - 35
Monday Morning NW 25 - 35
Monday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 30 - 40
Sunday Night WNW 20 - 30
Monday Morning NW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 35 - 45
Monday Morning N 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon NNW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

Expect high pressure to predominate Tuesday night through Wednesday night as it gradually slides across the region. Easterly flow should be in the moderate range with a strong (15-20F) temperature difference with the cold pool holding strong east of the Cascade Crest and warm days and milder nights west of the Crest. The ridge breaks down Thursday as a weakening front fizzles in the near-shore waters.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 1500' - 3000' 1000' - 2500' 1500' - 3500' *
Wednesday Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' 1000' - 3000' 1500' - 3500' *
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 3500' - 5500' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 5000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
2000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
1000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
1500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
1500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 Feb 16, 2020

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