MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Saturday, December 21, 2019, 1000

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation:      2.38”swe, 2” in base, 11” on upper ridge

Temperature profile:   33 base,  32 ridge

Pass level winds:          light, westerly

Barometer:                1005mb’s and rising

Sky:                       Overcast and snowing

Radar:       SW plumb of moisture still effecting the mountains.  The Olympic peninsula is beginning to dry out with the back edge of the moisture entering Puget Sound.

The Forecast:   Decreasing snow today with falling freezing levels.  Tomorrow will be mostly dry with temperatures in the mid to upper 20’s.

Long Range.  Light passing snow showers will be the weather pattern for the first half of holiday week.  Warming and more precipitation is expected after Christmas day.  

  

The Science:   There is a stationary front sitting over western Washington doing what it can to squeeze out as much left over moisture as possible.   This front will slowly creep its way east, or just dissipate over the 6-8 hours. The atmosphere will remain unstable which will keep snow showers and cloudy conditions present tomorrow and Monday. 

A weak high pressure ridge will build over the PNW on Monday with some clearing possible.  Things will be relatively quiet through Christmas day with the long range models bringing another system in on Friday/Saturday.   

Confidence: Good.

Values from 4am today through 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .25-.5 snow:  2-4  Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .10   snow: trace Trend and Timing: The snow will taper off this evening with light snow showers expected tomorrow and Monday.

Temperature: Low: 34   High: 24 Freezing level: 4500’ – 3000’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will fall below 4000’ this afternoon with freezing levels dropping to +-3000’ tomorrow.

Winds Base: 0-5 W Ridge Top:   0-10 WNW Trend and Timing: Winds will be light and from the WNW through the night.