Issued: 2:13 PM PDT Tuesday, March 17, 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 Monday

A strong blocking ridge offshore continues to dominate Pacific Northwest weather for the rest of the week, bringing northerly flow aloft, continued mild temperatures, dry weather with low relative humidities in the mountains, and very light or variable winds. The blocking ridge keeps us in a "stuck" pattern with disturbance forming closed lows splitting off the main jet in the vicinity of SE Alaska and dropping southward offshore. The first of these disturbances currently passing over the region is very weak.

A moderate inversion mixed out by mid-morning on Tuesday. Temperatures at Leavenworth and Crystal Base rose an impressive 11F and 15F, respectively, from 9-10 AM.

Another moderate inversion forms overnight as a disturbance passing down our coastline today brings the high clouds currently over the region southward. The inversion should once again mix out by mid-morning on Wednesday, with Washington experiencing more direct sunshine, while filtered sunshine can be expected for Mt. Hood. Temperatures should peak later in the day as offshore ridging works further onshore.

Wednesday night should be clear and mild once again with the ridging over the region becoming slightly more pronounced and providing another sunny, warm day on Thursday as the next closed low moves southward, but stays well offshore.

Freezing levels hold relatively steady in the 4000-6000 ft range with significant diurnal influence.

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Tuesday Night Mostly clear skies. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Mt. Baker
Tuesday Night Mostly clear skies. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Tuesday Night Clouds lingering for the central and south Cascades, exiting by morning. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Tuesday Night Some thin high clouds lingering into the evening for Stevens Pass and until around midnight for Snoqualmie Pass, then decreasing and becoming scattered. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft. Light E winds through the mountain gaps.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Tuesday Night High clouds lingering until around midnight and then becoming scattered. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Night High clouds. Mild at upper elevations with an inversion forming below 5000 ft.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level * 6500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 6000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 3500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level 6000' 5000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 4500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level 6000' 5500' 5500' 6000' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 5500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 4500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500' 5000' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
600'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
Wednesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Thursday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* 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 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
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 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
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 E 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening ENE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night ENE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning W 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Night NE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening ENE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night ENE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning W 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Tuesday Night NE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 0 - 10
Wednesday Afternoon ENE 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
Tuesday Evening ENE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 ESE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night N 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 ENE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning NNW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 NNE 5 - 15 ENE 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening ENE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night N 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening ESE 0 - 10
Tuesday Night VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon NNW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night ENE 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning NNE 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon N 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night ENE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning ENE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ENE 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

High pressure with clear skies and calm winds aloft dominates Thursday night as we sit between an offshore low and the Canadian jetstream. A weak disturbance drops southward on Friday, bringing Washington State some cloud cover and very light rain/snow showers or weak convergence activity which lingers on NW flow as a trough digs to our east. Freezing levels continue to hold relatively steady Thursday night through Friday night, in the 4000-6000 ft, with slight cooling on Saturday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Thursday Night Snow Level 5000' - 6000' 5000' - 6000' 5000' - 6000' *
Friday Snow Level 4500' - 5500' 5000' - 6000' 5500' - 6500'
Friday Night Snow Level 4000' - 5500' 5000' - 6000' 6000' - 7000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5500'
Saturday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Saturday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Friday Night Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Saturday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'

* 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 17, 2020

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