Issued: 7:09 AM PDT Wednesday, March 11, 2020
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Tuesday

We're expecting relatively quiet weather in the short term as we enter a drier period between storms.

A weak front passed through the Cascades around 4 AM. A modest convergence zone formed instantly behind the front and should continue to shift southward from Stevens Pass to Snoqualmie between 7 and 10 AM, but it shouldn't bring more than an inch or so of snow above 3500 ft. Scattered very light snow showers continue and should gradually end in most locations by late morning. Snow levels should lower slightly to near Snoqualmie Pass level behind the front as cooler air pushes in from the WNW. Clouds should continue to give way to sunshine in many areas with clouds lingering longer west of the Cascade Crest and particularly in the central Washington Cascades.

Alpine winds in the strong range, particularly east of the Cascade Crest, should gradually decrease into the moderate range by the afternoon.

Flow switches from W to WNW as an offshore ridge builds with a trough to our east. This drying upper-level flow pattern continues to push trapped low-level moisture into the region, banking low-level clouds against the Cascades as very weak perturbations of the flow pattern produce some periods of very light snow showers or very weak convergence through Thursday. Most areas will experience a mix of clouds and sunshine west of the Cascade Crest with sunshine further east.

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning W 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15 W 55 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WNW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening W 55 - 15
Wednesday Night W 0 - 10
Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night W 0 - 10
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 10 - 20
Wednesday Night WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening W 55 - 15
Wednesday Night W 0 - 10
Thursday Morning W 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night W 0 - 10
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 10 - 20
Wednesday Night WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Morning NW 0 - 10
Thursday 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
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 W 40 - 60 WNW 35 - 45 NW 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 WNW 40 - 50 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 35 - 45 NW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25 WNW 10 - 20 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 30 - 40 NW 35 - 45
Thursday Morning WNW 20 - 30 WNW 10 - 20 NW 30 - 40 NW 25 - 35 NW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 15 - 25
Thursday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Night WNW 35 - 45
Thursday Morning NW 30 - 40
Thursday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Evening WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Night WNW 30 - 40
Thursday Morning NW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning NW 40 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 40 - 50
Wednesday Evening NW 40 - 50
Wednesday Night NW 35 - 45
Thursday Morning NW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon NW 25 - 35

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 10, 2020

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