Issued: 2:38 PM PDT Tuesday, March 10, 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 Tuesday night through Tuesday

A weakening frontal system approaching the region on NW flow continues to spread increasing moisture and gradual warming to the region on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the snowfall so far has fallen in the Mt. Baker area, where winds have been sustained in the 30+ mph range from 10 AM to 1 PM. The moisture should continue to spread gradually southward with rain/snow intensity peaking in the late evening hours before precipitation lets up from the Mt. Baker area southward through Wednesday morning. Temperatures should also peak with warming in the central Cascades rising snow levels to 4000 ft before they lower Snoqualmie Pass level by Wednesday. Stevens Pass should pick up 4-6" of snow with similar amounts above 4000 ft at Snoqualmie Pass. Snow levels hold steadier around 3000 ft in the Mt. Baker area where we expect an additional 6-10" of snow to fall Tuesday night. Expect subtle convergence enhancement to develop late Tuesday night in the Mountain Loop region and work southward toward Snoqualmie by sometime Wednesday morning.

Strong winds should continue at Mt. Baker through the evening hours. Elsewhere in the Cascades, winds peak Tuesday night with strong to very strong alpine winds developing in the East Central Cascades northward to Washington Pass as winds accelerate down the east slopes of the Cascades. Strong alpine winds can be expected throughout the west slopes of the Washington Cascades overnight.  A ridge building in offshore with a trough developing to our east maintains a tight pressure gradient over our region on Wednesday. Winds decrease a notch during the day Wednesday as W winds shift WNW.

The offshore high nosing into our region also begins to bring a NW flow aloft. However, some lingering low-level moisture should continue to allow areas of very weak convergence very light rain and snow to linger in the Snoqualmie to Stevens Pass vicinities at times Wednesday night and Thursday. Other areas should see fair weather during this time period with light W winds and with some clouds banked against the Cascade Crests, but clear skies to the east. 

 

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of light snow.
Mt. Baker
Tuesday Night Moderate to heavy snow in the evening, then rapidly decreasing snowfall.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Tuesday Night Light rain and snow heavier near the Cascade Crest with the precipitation shifting from the northern/central parts in the evening to the central/southern parts overnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Tuesday Night Light to moderate rain and snow. Snow levels bumping up to around 4000 ft in the early morning hours. W wind through the Passes 15-25 mph.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Tuesday Night Cloudy with occasional light rain and snow in the evening with steadier light rain and snow after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds. Clouds lowering and thickening just before dawn. Very mild with some gradual cooling.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 4500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 4000' 7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 4000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 2000' 2000' 2500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level 3000' 3000' 3500' 4500' 3500' 3000' 4000' 4500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level 3000' 2000' 2500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 2000' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Thursday 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Evening WSW 45 - 55 WSW 50 - 65 W 50 - 65 WNW 35 - 45 W 25 - 35
Tuesday Night WSW 35 - 45 W 45 - 65 W 40 - 60 W 40 - 50 W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 WNW 40 - 55 WNW 40 - 50 NW 35 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening WSW 45 - 55
Tuesday Night WSW 35 - 45
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening WSW 50 - 65
Tuesday Night W 45 - 65
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening W 50 - 65
Tuesday Night W 40 - 60
Wednesday Morning WNW 40 - 55
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 40 - 55
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening WNW 35 - 45
Tuesday Night W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning WNW 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening W 25 - 35
Tuesday Night W 40 - 50
Wednesday Morning NW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon NW 35 - 45

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

A sharp trough drops south down the coast of British Columbia Thursday night bringing sharp cooling Friday morning as a surface low forms offshore and pushes moderate to heavy snow into the Olympics, southern and central Washington Cascades, and Mt. Hood on Friday morning with unstable showers continuing through Saturday. Areas of northern Washington Stand to get the least out of this system, but areas further south may pick up 10-20" of snow before all is said and done. Snow levels should be below normal throughout the extended forecast and at time approach sea level.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Thursday Night Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4500'
Friday Snow Level 0' - 2000' 1000' - 2000' 2000' - 3500'
Friday Night Snow Level 0' - 2000' 1000' - 2500' 1000' - 2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
Friday Snow Level
0' - 2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
0' - 2000'
Saturday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
Friday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2500'
Saturday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4500'
Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Saturday Snow Level
0' - 1000'

* 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 10, 2020

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