MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Tuesday, January 28, 2020, 1030

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation:      .65swe, 10” of snow

Temperature profile:   30 base, 26 ridge

Pass level winds:          light easterly

Barometer:                holding steady at 1011,b’s

Sky:                             overcast, light snow falling

Radar:  A frontal boundary just passing over the crest with wide spread precipitation over the western coastal region.

The Forecast: 

Diminishing snow showers today with temperatures in the low 30’s.   Tonight will be quiet with moderate to heavy snow during the day tomorrow.  Temperature will be consistently near freezing. 

Another, relatively short-lived punch of moisture arrives tomorrow with 4-6” of snow accumulation likely during the daylight hours.

The Science:

The low pressure trough that brought the snow early this morning is expected to sag south today.  The associated weak frontal band will keep the light snow falling above 3500’ through the day.  The moisture will diminish this afternoon as the barometric pressure pushes up a few notches.  

Friday and Saturday are looking very wet (rain) with high freezing levels (6-7000’) Descriptive terms such as an atmospheric river, and or pinnacle express are being thrown around in other forecast discussions.  More on that tomorrow.   

Long Range.  

Thursday will be relatively quiet with moderate to heavy rain and high freezing levels expected Friday and Saturday. A cold and dry weather pattern develops during the first full week of February.     

Confidence:  Good.

Values from 4am today through 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .25  snow:  2-4  Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .75   snow: 4-6 Trend and Timing: Light snow today will diminish tonight with the next push of moisture arriving mid-morning tomorrow.

Temperature: Low: 30   High: 34 Freezing level: +-4500’ Trend and Timing:    Freezing levels will remain around 4500’ through the night.

Winds Base: 0-5 W Ridge Top:  0-10 WSW Trend and Timing: The wind will be light today and shifting westerly.