MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Day and Time:  Tuesday 0630

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation:  Trace

Temperature profile: 24 base, 21 ridge

Pass level winds: light but gusty - W

Barometer: 1017 mb’s and dropping

Sky: OC

Radar: Light snow showers are beginning to show up along the western slopes with the main feature entering the SW corner of the state.

The Forecast:  Snow today.  

Long Range:  Thursday will be mostly dry with another similar system as today entering the region on Friday.  

  

The Science: A low pressure trough, with an embedded triple point frontal system   will bring snow and gusty westerly winds to the Cascades today.  A pocket of warm air, associated with the leading warm front, will temporarily push freezing levels to +-3000’ .  Westerly flow with a potential Puget Sound Convergence Zone development could enhance orographic snow fall.  Freezing levels will fall back with snow shifting to showers as the cold front move off to the east.   

Snow showers will linger through the day tomorrow with dry and partly clear conditions setting up for Thursday.  NW flow will drive another winter storm through the PNW on Friday/Saturday with similar result as today.

Forecast confidence: Confidence is good.  

Values from 4am today through

 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .75-1  snow: 8-12 Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .25-.5  snow: 3-5 Trend and Timing: Snow will intensify through the day with the heaviest period beginning after 4pm today. Snow shifts to light showers early tomorrow morning.

Temperature: Low: 20   High: 28 Freezing level:  2500’-3000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will bump close to 3000’ this afternoon and then fall be to +-2500’ overnight.

Winds Base: 5-10 W Ridge Top: 5-15 W  gusty Trend and Timing: Light to moderate westerly flow will be the pattern through tomorrow.