Mountain Weather Forecast

Time and Day: 0500 Saturday

The Snapshot: Snow showers with a midday break today, heavy snow beginning overnight and continuing tomorrow.

The Science

Current Observations:  4-5” overnight, with snow continuing at the moment. Temperatures have moderated a bit and are in the low 20’s across the mountain. Winds are light to moderate from the west. The barometer has dropped from 1022 millibars to 1006 at 4am as the low pressure center approaches.

The Forecast: Snow will continue this morning as the latest low pressure cell moves over Western Washington. Showers will taper off Saturday morning in a brief break between systems. The next, much stronger system, arrives Saturday night. This is a larger scale low pressure trough with steady, strong, westerly flow behind it. This is typically a good setup for frontal showers followed by a convergence zone aimed at Stevens Pass. Models currently have the convergence zone sitting over the forecast area for much of Sunday bringing heavy snow accumulations.

The Long Range: Monday looks like a mostly dry, cool day. The next system arrives early Tuesday morning for another round of snow. Freezing levels remain between 1,000 and 2,000 feet for next week.

24hr values daily 4am to 4am.

Precipitation: Saturday’s   24hr water:  .75   snow: 8-10” Sunday’s   24hr water:  1.25-1.5   snow: 12-18” Trend and Timing: Moderate snow ending Saturday morning, beginning again Saturday night and becoming heavy by 4am Sunday. Snow continuing in possible heavy convergence showers Sunday.

Temperature: Low: 18    High: 26 Snow level: 1000’ Trend and Timing:     Steady temps with daytime warming.

Winds Base: W 5-15 Ridge Top: W10-20, then WSW 30-40 with gusts Trend and Timing: Consistent west winds during the day Saturday, becoming gusty and moderate to strong Saturday night and Sunday am.