MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Stevens Pass Mountain Weather Forecast

Date: Sunday, February 2, 2020

Current Observations:

24hr Precipitation: 1.3” total water (.45 made snow, .85 was rain) 8” snow

Temperature profile: 23 base / 16 mid mtn

Pass level winds: Light westerly

Barometer: 1016 steady

Sky:  Partly Cloudy, light snow flurries

Radar:  Spotty, light showers west of the crest and in the Puget Sound

The Forecast: A few calm and relatively quiet days are in store. Partly cloudy, cool temperatures, and a light snow flurry or two will characterize the next 48 hours.

The Science: The main synoptic features affecting our weather for the short term will be a low pressure trough that is moving onshore this morning, and a high pressure ridge building in the Pacific. As the trough moves east and the ridge builds, upper level flow will become increasingly north/northwesterly, ushering in cool and dry air. The ridge will build in amplitude Monday and Tuesday. Some embedded moisture coming in off the ocean may produce a few snow flurries today and tomorrow.

Long Range: Get your chores done now because active weather returns Tuesday afternoon. A frontal system approaches over the top of the ridge bringing moderate to heavy snow and warming temperatures. The rain/snow game will be on Wednesday and Thursday with cooling and further snow on Friday and into the weekend.

Confidence: Good for the next 48 hours, poor for exact amounts/precip type beyond that.

Values from 4am today through 4am tomorrow.

Precipitation: Today 24hr water: .10 snow: 0-2” Tomorrow’s 24hr water: .1-.25  snow: 1-3” Trend and Timing: Light snow flurries possible today and tonight.

Temperature: Low: 16   High: 24 Freezing level: 500-1000’ Trend and Timing:    Steady cool temps today.

Winds Base: W 0-5 Ridge Top: W 5-10 Trend and Timing: Higher gusts over the past few hours (20’s) should end Sunday morning with light winds the rest of the day.