MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Day and Time: Tuesday 0700

Merry Christmas  

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation:  0

Temperature profile: 20b / 22r

Pass level winds: Light SE

Barometer: Has clicked up to @ 1015mb’s

Sky: Mostly clear at the Pass. There is a thin inversion layer of clouds over the eastern basin with clear skies above +- 4000’.  

Radar:  There are no signals of precipitation in Washington State.  

The Forecast:  Dry today with increasing clouds and snow moving in overnight.  A nice snow day is taking shape for tomorrow with cool temperatures. 

Long Range: The week will end mostly dry with a few passing snow showers possible.  Saturday will be mostly dry with another storm expected to arrive on Sunday.

The Science:  A thin inversion cloud layer, lapping up against the eastern slopes, is indicative of the slightly warmer temperatures to the west.  Similar to yesterday, this layer will struggle to dissipate with the low angle weak sun.   The +4500’ south exposed slopes will get some radiation today. 

 A weakening warm front is making its way toward the regions.  The low pressure trough is timing out to pass over the mountain early tomorrow morning with nice NW flow filling in behind the front. There is plenty of cold air available for this system to be a nice cold snow producer.   

A high pressure cell, centered off the California coast, will nudge its upper ridge into the PNW waters on Thursday/Friday.  Long range models are struggling with how the storms riding on the upper jet will play with the high pressure to the south.  Thus, there is uncertainty (low confidence) on the weekend outlook.   

  

Values from 4am today through

 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .10  snow: trace Tomorrow’s 24hr water:.5-.75   snow: 6-8 Trend and Timing: Dry through 2am with snow beginning early tomorrow morning.

Temperature: Low: 16    High: 24 Freezing level: +- 1000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will remain well below Pass level through the end of the week.

Winds Base: 0-5 ESE Ridge Top: 5-10 W Trend and Timing: Weak surface east flow with westerly flow aloft will be the wind pattern today.