Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Sunday
Dry, mild and quiet will define our weather over the next few days. One upper level low is currently positioned over California while another low drops south along the B.C. coast but remains well offshore. This leaves the Pacific Northwest with weak flow aloft and no weather systems on the immediate horizon.
Freezing levels observed this morning by radiosondes (weather balloons) were all near 6000'. That's still the anchor point where freezing levels will hang around for the next three days, with some minor regional variations and slight changes due to daytime heating and nighttime cooling. Temperature inversions will allow temperatures to fall below freezing for lower slopes and valleys, but expect these inversions to mix out late morning as the sun rises and temperatures increase.
Mostly clear nights and mostly sunny days will sum up the next three days as well. A few fair-weather cumulus clouds will likely build over the mountains in the afternoon, but no precipitation is expected.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. Light and variable winds at Pass level. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. Light and variable winds at Pass level becoming light to moderate west winds in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Warmer upper slopes, cooler lower slopes. |
| Friday | Mostly sunny. Temperature inversions mixing out mid-morning. |
Issued: 1:53 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | Freezing Level | 6000' | 6000' | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 6500' | 6500' |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' |
| Friday Morning | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 6000' | 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6500' | 7000' |
| Friday Evening | Freezing Level | 5000' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 6500' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 4500' | 4000' | 3000' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6000' |
| Saturday Morning | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5500' | 5000' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 5500' | 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 6500' | 6500' | 6000' | 7000' | 6500' | 6500' | 6500' | 7000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Friday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7000' |
* 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
| Thursday Night | Sunday | Sunday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 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: 1:53 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Friday 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | W 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | W 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 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.
Issued: 1:53 PM PDT Thursday, March 19, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
The weather pattern will begin to change on Sunday as the flow aloft turns northwesterly and the jet stream buckles the strong upper level ridge that extends into Alaska. This will be a quick moving weather system, so while Sunday should be another dry day with mild freezing levels, expect increasing high/mid clouds over Washington State and an increase in alpine winds.
The cold front should pass inland Sunday night into Monday, but the parent low is forecast to drop south along the Washington Coast rather than passing inland. While there's high confidence that much colder air will filter into the region, this system may only squeeze out light to moderate amounts of snow through Monday afternoon.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | 6000' - 7000' | |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4500' | 3000' - 5000' | 4000' - 6000' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 6000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 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.
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 19, 2020
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