Mountain Weather Forecast

Weather Synopsis for Friday & Wednesday

Limited moisture continues to bring some very light rain and snow showers to the Mt. Baker area in the morning as it over-runs a ridge positioned across the western US on Friday. An approaching frontal system will draw warm air out ahead of it into the region on Friday as the system taps into a subtropical moisture source. The warm air has already moved into mid-elevation parts of Mt. Hood where temperatures at stations in the 6000-7000 ft range were in the upper 30s and low 40s at 6 AM this morning, while areas below 6000 ft should remain closer to freezing until the inversion mixes out mid-morning. SSW winds will increase into the moderate range in some areas, particularly the West North and Olympics zones. The winds will help the warm air work northward throughout the day, invading most of the Cascades and Olympics by Friday afternoon, but the N Cascades should be largely spared.

In the evening, snow levels will remain high for much of the region ahead of the approaching frontal system as it transits the region from NW to SE overnight, with the front passing Snoqualmie pass shortly after midnight. The front should bring a quick shot of rain and snow, with temperatures cooling behind. Mt. Baker stands to pick up 4-7" of snow out of this system, but may see a brief period of rain at ski area base. Stevens Pass should see a period of rain before a changeover to snow with 2-5" of snow accumulation expected. Snoqualmie Pass should remain mostly too warm at pass level, where only mid and upper elevations will see accumulating snows.

Saturday should be cooler with another ridge moving into the region, ending rain and snow shower activity which should give way to a mostly sunny afternoon.