MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Day and Time: 10:30am

The Snapshot:  Increasing rain and wind today with temperatures reaching into the 40’s.  Blustery wet weather will continue through the rest of the week. 

Note: The approaching warm front stalled its approach last night.  Moderate rain with rising freezing level is still expected.  

Current Observations:

Precipitation: Lightly raining. .53” of mixed snow and rain fell over night. 

Pass temperature: 38

Winds: 5-10 W gusty

Barometer: 1014mb’s and falling

Sky:  Overcast with pass level fog

Radar: Wide spread light rain showers.

The Forecast:  The next push of moisture is expected reach the mountains late this afternoon with moderate rain expected.  Temperatures have begun to rise with freezing level expected to peak near 7000’ later today.  Mild temperatures with several pulses of moisture will continue move into the PNW for the few days.

Long Range: There will be a brief break in the action Friday/Saturday with another wet system entering the region on Sunday.  

There are some early signs that cooler air from the NW will begin to mix with the incoming moisture early next week.  This is really far out, but the possibility of some snow early next week will be something I will be keeping an eye on.   

  

The Science: Yesterday’s high pressure ridge strengthened just enough to slow the approaching warm front.  The leading edge of the front is just making land fall and is expected to reach the mountains in the next 6-12 hrs.  This is now a slow moving front with an upper level shortwave disturbance leading the charge. 

Pressure gradients will tighten up with strong westerly flow expected to strengthen this afternoon. In other words, expect some strong persistent winds above 4500’.

For you true weather geeks.  Vorticities are not that impressive 12-15hPa,  UVV values are only 3cm/s.  These values point to an overall weakening system.  J  

Values from 4am today through

 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .75  snow: 0 Tomorrow’s 24hr water: 1  snow: 0 Trend and Timing: Light rain today increasing overnight.

Temperature: Low: 33     High: 42 Freezing level: 5000’ -7000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will peak near 7000’ this afternoon and remain around that elevation through tomorrow.

Winds Base: 5-15 W Ridge Top: 10-20 W gusty Trend and Timing: Winds will increase today with gusty ridge top winds being persistent.