MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Saturday, December 7, 2019, 1030a

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation:          .18swe, 1” of snow

Temperature profile:        31 base,  32 ridge

Pass level winds:               light easterly

Barometer:                       1006mb’s and falling

Sky:                             Overcast with light snow showers falling

Radar:     Lots of moisture tracking NNE along the western slopes of the Cascades.  Freezing levels are around 4000’ with snow levels around 3000’.  The cold front is well to the east with high pressure developing over the western waters.

The Forecast:  Snow showers taper off today with dry weather expected tomorrow.  We may even get a glimpse of the sun tomorrow afternoon.

Long Range:  Next week will start out dry with clear periods. Clouds begin to move in on Tuesday with the next round of moisture hitting the Cascades Wednesday afternoon. 

  

The Science:  Pressure gradients will begin to weaken today as the low pressure that brought us this snow heads east.   A high pressure ridge will drift over the PNW tomorrow producing dry weather with clear periods.  Clouds may persist along the western edge of the crest with abundant sunshine to the east.

Long range models are starting to align with the next set of storms tracking toward the PNW starting on Wednesday.  It is still a ways out, so details such as precipitation amounts, temperatures and timing still need to be worked out.  As of now, we should start seeing snow showers starting Wednesday night with pulses of snow through the weekend.   Storm total forecasts, with better model confidence, will be provided in Monday’s forecast.   

Confidence:  Good through Wednesday, fair for the long range.

Values from 4am today through 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .5 snow: 1-3 Tomorrow’s 24hr water: 0  snow: 0 Trend and Timing: The precipitation will slowly shift to showers and then taper off overnight.

Temperature: Low:  30  High:  34 Freezing level: +-4500 Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will bounce between 4000’ and 5000’ through the next 24hrs and then fall to +- 3500’ by Monday morning.

Winds Base: 0-5 E shifting W Ridge Top: 0-5 W shifting N Trend and Timing: Pass level east flow with westerly flow aloft will shift WNW through the night.