MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Day and Time: Tuesday 0630

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation: Lightly snowing

Temperature profile: 26 base, 22 ridge

Pass level winds: light, westerly

Barometer: 1023mbs; and slowly falling

Sky: OC

Radar: Light patchy snow showers falling in southern tier of the mountains with the main front just making landfall

The Forecast: Increasing snow today with warming.  Windy with heavy mixed rain and snow late tonight.   Things begin to dry out tomorrow afternoon.    

Long Range:  A prolonged dry period begins on Thursday and likely will last through the upcoming weekend.   

  

The Science:  A good ole triple point frontal system with a big dose of moisture will slam the PNW today.  The leading warm front is expected to pass over this evening with the following cold front sliding through sometime tomorrow.  

It will likely play out like this:  Snow increasing today with heaviest snow between 4pm and 4am.  Freezing levels rise to 4000’ this afternoon with snow levels remaining below Pass level.   Freezing levels will spike up to 5000’ around midnight and then slowly fall back to +-4500’ through the day tomorrow.

Strong westerly winds will be in play.  Models showing 5000’ winds > 40mph from 4am to noon tomorrow.

Confidence is poor on how much if any rain but good for precipitating amounts and general timing.     

Values from 4am today through

 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: 1.5   snow: 8-10base, 12-15+ upper mountain Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .5 snow: 1-3 Trend and Timing: Snow increasing today with a period of mixed rain possible between 10pm and 7am.

Temperature: Low: 24    High: 34 Freezing level: 2500’-4000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will rise to 4000’ late this afternoon and   then spike up to 5000’ just after midnight tonight.  Freezing levels fall back to +-4000’ through the day tomorrow.

Winds Base: 5-10 SSW Ridge Top: 5-15 WSW gusting +20 Trend and Timing: Winds will be generally WSW through this storm.  Gusty frontal winds can be expected through the next 24-36hrs.