Issued: 2:19 PM PDT Monday, March 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 Monday night through Monday

A ridge of high pressure should dominate this week.

The closed low off the coast of California continues to spin southward leaving our region with sunny weather and warmer air under an offshore ridge wedging in from the NW. We've seen a drastic change in temperature over the last 24 hours with many locations warming 20-30 degrees. By Monday afternoon, temperatures were generally in the 30's and 40's at NWAC stations, with a few stations above 6000 ft still in the 20's. Temperatures were generally warmest west of the Cascade Crest.

Some ENE winds associated with the closed low should linger into Monday evening for Mt Hood, but by Tuesday morning, light or calm winds are expected across the region.

Dry northerly flow downstream of the strong offshore ridge brings a weak disturbance passing off our coast. The disturbance lacks precipitation, but brings mid-level clouds to the region during the day on Tuesday and should help limit solar radiation hitting the snowpack for the Washington Cascades and Olympics. Temperatures cool 5 degrees or so for areas west of the Cascade Crest relative to Monday. 

Tuesday night the ridge wedges back in as skies clear. Temperatures won't be as warm as during the Monday-Tuesday time frame, but still expect mild, sunny conditions on Wednesday.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night Clear and mild with very light winds.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night Clear and mild with very light winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night Clear with an inversion likely bringing mild temperatures at mid and upper elevations.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night Clear and mild with very light winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night Clear and mild with very light winds.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night Clear skies with moderate 5000 ft winds becoming light.

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 8000' 7000' 6000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 7000' 4500'
Monday Night Freezing Level 8000' 6000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 6000' 5500' 4000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 7500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level 6500' 6500' 6000' 5000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
8000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
6000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
6000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
7000'
Monday Night Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
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 Monday Monday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 ENE 15 - 25
Monday Night VAR 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 ENE 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning SSE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Monday Night SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening ENE 0 - 10
Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening ENE 15 - 25
Monday Night ENE 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning SSE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SSE 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Monday Night SW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening E 0 - 10
Monday Night ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning SE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening ENE 0 - 10
Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening ENE 15 - 25
Monday Night ENE 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NW 0 - 10

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 NW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 ENE 5 - 15 ENE 20 - 30
Monday Night W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 NNW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 5 - 15
Monday Night W 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NNW 5 - 15
Monday Night W 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening WNW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening ENE 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening ENE 20 - 30
Monday Night NE 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

Wednesday night into Thursday the offshore high pressure continues to bring mild weather with 3500-5000 ft snow levels. Late in the day on Thursday, expect some clouds to increase as a moderately organized offshore low approaches our near-shore waters from the north. The low continues southward and may provide some clouds or a chance of rain/snow showers, but models increasingly take this system further offshore, limiting our chances of precipitation.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 3500' - 5000' 3500' - 5000'
Thursday Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 3500' - 5000' 4000' - 5500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 5000'
Thursday Freezing Level
3500' - 5000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 5000'
Thursday Freezing Level
4000' - 5500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing 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 16, 2020

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.