MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Day and Time:

The Snapshot:  The next 2 days will be dry with sun and moon appearances.  A snow changing to rain event is expected Monday and Tuesday with light snow showers for the remainder of the week.

Current Observations:

Precipitation: .65” of water produce 7” of snow over the last 24hrs.  

Pass temperature: 30

Pass level winds: light and out of the west

Barometer: 1003mb’s and rising

Sky: Morning patchy fog with broken clouds above

Radar: There are a few light rain showers up around the Bellingham area with the rest of the state dry.

The Forecast:  Today and tomorrow will be dry with clear periods.  Daytime temperatures will climb into the lower 30’s with early morning lows dipping into the mid to low 20’s.   The next system moves in on Monday morning with rising freezing levels. This will be a rain vs snow game at the start with rain likely on Tuesday.

Storm totals for Monday/ Tuesday are currently:

          4am Monday – 4am Tuesday = 1-1.5” of water, 3-5” of snow

          4am-Tuesday – 4am Wednesday = .75-1” of water,  1-2” of snow

Long Range: After the mixed snow and rain event, cooler air moves in with remnant snow showers expected for the remainder of the week.   Hopefully, we will pick up a few inches of additional snow by week’s end.   

  

The Science:  The rising barometer is the indicator of the high pressure building over the PNW.  Mid level clouds will be stubborn in the mountains with clear sky’s likely over the eastern basin.  Upper level clearing and east flow development will allow temperatures to drop into the mid 20’s tonight.  Westerly flow will be light and slowly shift SE to E through the day tomorrow. 

A large low pressure cell, developing in North Pacific, has its southern border stretching well into the California waters.  As this system drift east, it will bring in warm, moist southerly flow early Monday morning.  With the cool east flow intact, snow will be likely at the start.  The east flow will slowly be eroded as the warm air advection increase into Tuesday.  Long range models have freezing levels peaking near +-6000’ on Tuesday afternoon.   

Values from 4am today through

 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: 0  snow: 0 Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .10  snow: trace Trend and Timing: Dry today with moisture moving in early Monday morning.

Temperature: Low: 24    High: 32 Freezing level: 4000’-3000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels, with the aid of east flow, will fall to or even below 3000’ early tomorrow morning.

Winds Base: 0-5 W shifting E Ridge Top: 0-10 W shifting E Trend and Timing: East flow will develop and strengthen early tomorrow morning.