Issued: 7:06 AM PST Saturday, March 7, 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 & Wednesday

The old frontal boundary that was over the Cascades on Friday has shifted into eastern Washington with a new round of precipitation moving from SW to NE along the boundary and brought some light snow showers to the east slopes of the Cascades overnight. To the west, a cold upper level low and associated upper trough is inching closer to the coast-line. This is allowing the air mass to cool; closer to the upper low and at high elevation weather stations in general, temperatures are in the upper teens to around 20F. 

Convective showers will rotate from the low onshore today. A shortwave trough, a marginally unstable airmass, and some March sun will all add up to an increase of afternoon showers this afternoon for the Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades and Passes. Slightly less shower activity is expected for the Mt. Hood area and especially along the east slopes of the Cascades. Snow showers may be moderate at times and mix with graupel.  Enhanced shower activity will go through Saturday evening before tapering off after midnight. 

The remnants of the upper low in the form of an upper trough will pass through SW British Columbia/NW Washington on Sunday. This will create enough instability for the chance of afternoon showers in the mountains, particularly for the north Cascades (both sides of the crest) and over the Olympics. Mid-level clouds may pass through for areas south, keeping more clouds than sun in the forecast. Overall, temperatures will be a notch cooler on Sunday. 

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 1000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 2500' 3000' 4000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level 1000' 1000' 500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing 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 Saturday Night Wednesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0
Paradise 0.25 LT 0.25 0
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15 S 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night SW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 0 - 10
Saturday Night SW 0 - 10
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 0 - 10
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 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
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night W 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SW 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon SW 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.

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

Previous forecast from Mar 6, 2020

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