Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Tuesday
A weak ridge remains over the region through Tuesday morning, maintaining light winds, mostly clear/sunny skies, and large diurnal differences in temperatures.
A system dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska on NW flow, sending a good chunk of its energy into British Columbia. It should bring increasing high clouds to northern Washington State Monday night into Tuesday morning. Precipitation follows late Tuesday morning and increases through the end of the day for the west slopes of the Cascades north of Snoqualmie Pass and the Olympic Mountains (with Hurricane Ridge largely rain-shadowed). Light to moderate precipitation initially focuses on the West North Cascades, but shifts southward to include the West Central Cascades Tuesday evening and all of the Cascades overnight, while beginning to let up in the north. Precipitation should be light in all areas by Wednesday morning. Expect some convergence in the Central Cascades Tuesday night, shifting southward into the Snoqualmie Vicinity on Wednesday morning. Snow levels should generally be in the 2000-4000 ft range, peaking late Tuesday evening with subtle warming, and then cooling Tuesday night with a cold frontal passage. Snoqualmie Pass level should see rain Tuesday night with a changeover to snow early Wednesday morning.
Perhaps the biggest story with this system will be the westerly winds. Moderate westerlies pick up out ahead of the storm on Tuesday and should be strong in the alpine by Tuesday evening from White Pass northward. Winds accelerate downslope and should be particularly strong east of the Cascade Crest. Winds should gradually decrease on Wednesday as the system moves away.
The region dries out Wednesday afternoon as a large offshore ridge edges into the region from the west.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Monday Night | Mostly clear with high clouds in the evening. Clouds increasing, lowering and thickening after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy. |
Mt. Baker
| Monday Night | Mostly clear with high clouds in the evening. Clouds increasing, lowering and thickening after midnight. |
| Tuesday | Thickening clouds bringing increasing light to moderate rain and snow from late morning onwards. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Monday Night | Mostly clear with thin high clouds in the evening; Mid-level clouds increasing in the northern areas (near Washington Pass) by morning. |
| Tuesday | Mostly cloudy with increasing light rain and snow near the Cascade Crest and in the north in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Monday Night | Mostly clear with high clouds increasing by morning. |
| Tuesday | Filtered sunshine in the morning with high clouds lowering and thickening. Mostly cloudy skies from late morning onwards. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Monday Night | Mostly clear with high clouds increasing by morning. |
| Tuesday | Filtered sunshine in the morning clouds increasing. Partly cloudy skies from noon onwards. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Mostly clear and cool. |
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny with increasing periods of high clouds. |
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | Freezing Level | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 3000' | 1500' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Morning | Freezing Level | 3000' | 2000' | 1500' | 3000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 2000' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | 4000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 6000' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 5500' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 4500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
* 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
| Monday Night | Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0.25 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | 0.50 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Tuesday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 0 - 10 | SSW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 0 - 10 | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 | SSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Monday Night | WSW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 40 - 50 | W 30 - 40 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | W 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Monday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 20 - 30 |
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.
Issued: 2:37 PM PDT Monday, March 9, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
The offshore ridge dominates the picture Wednesday night and Thursday. Clouds increase Thursday night ahead of a sharp upper low that should bring increasing widespread snow to the Washington Cascades and Olympics on Friday with rapidly cooling temperatures dropping snow levels to just above sea level.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level | 1000' - 2500' | 1500' - 3000' | 3000' - 4500' | |
| Thursday | Freezing Level | 1000' - 3000' | 1500' - 3500' | 3000' - 5000' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 3500' - 4500' | |
| Friday | Snow Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1000' - 2000' | 3500' - 4500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2500' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 3000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 3000' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 3500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4500' |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Friday |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
* 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 Mar 9, 2020
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