Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Sunday
A closed low sitting over Northwest Washington Friday afternoon will continue to bring snow showers to the region as a moist, unstable airmass continues to move through the associated trough. The flow is weak near the low over Washington State and is expected to remain weak through Friday night, with slightly stronger flow away from the low center over northern Oregon.
Snow shower activity will decrease Saturday night in the North Cascades, but further south, significant snow accumulations will continue with locally intense convective showers along the west slopes of the Cascades from the central Washington Cascades southward to Mt. Hood. A Puget Sound Convergence zone before midnight and a Vancouver Island Convergence zone after midnight, as the flow switches more Northwesterly, are likely to bring enhanced precipitation to the Central Cascades.
On Saturday, skies will start clearing early in the day. Expect a mix of clouds and sun along with noticeable afternoon warming as the instability gives way to a ridge building in along the coast.
Saturday night should be mostly clear and fair with high clouds ahead of a weakening frontal system that will approach but not reach our coastline. Freezing levels will continue to rise.
Sunday will feature high cloud cover and significant warming in many areas as flow turns southwesterly ahead of a strong frontal system arriving on Monday.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Lingering light snow showers ending early, then partially clearing. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Light snow showers, tapering after midnight. |
| Saturday | Partly cloudy. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Moderate snow showers, heaviest in convergence. |
| Saturday | Flurries ending early, then becoming partly to mostly sunny. |
Mt. Rainier and Crystal
| Friday Night | Decreasing light to moderate convective snow showers with a chance of graupel. |
| Saturday | Clouds lingering early, then becoming partly sunny. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Light snow showers, becoming flurries after midnight. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Decreasing moderate convective snow showers with a chance of graupel. |
| Saturday | Snow flurries ending early. Becoming partly cloudy. |
Issued: 9:13 PM PST Friday, November 23, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 4500' | 3000' | 3000' | 5000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Saturday Evening | Freezing Level | 4500' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level * | 6000' | 4000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3000' | 3000' | 5000' | 8000' |
| Sunday Morning | Freezing Level * | 7500' | 6000' | 3500' | 3500' | 6500' | 7500' | 8000' | 8500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 8500' | 7500' | 3500' | 8000' | 8000' | 8000' | 8500' | 9000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Precipitation Forecast
| Friday Night | Sunday | Sunday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.50 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.75 -1.00 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 9:13 PM PST Friday, November 23, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 5 - 15 | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | NW 10 - 20 | NW 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | NW 15 - 25 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | NW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | NW 15 - 25 | NW 20 - 30 | NW 20 - 30 | WSW 30 - 45 | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | NNW 15 - 25 | N 15 - 25 | NNW 25 - 35 | NNW 25 - 35 | NW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 10 - 20 | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | WNW 10 - 20 | NW 5 - 15 | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | NW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | NNW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | NW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | N 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | NW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | NW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | NNW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | NNW 10 - 20 |
Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.
Issued: 9:13 PM PST Friday, November 23, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Sunday night the first precipitation will arrive on our coastline ahead of a strong front, tapping into subtropical moisture ahead of a broad and deep low/trough combo over the northern Pacific.
This storm system will bring high snow levels and 1-4" of precipitation for most of the west slopes of the Cascades with .5-2.5" anticipated along the east slopes of the Cascades for Monday and Tuesday. Moderate to strong S-SW flow will scour out most of the cold air pools east of the Cascade Crest.
The cold front is expected to pass Tuesday morning, bringing a switch to W-SW flow and gradually lowering snow levels during the day Tuesday along and gradually decreasing precipitation. Snow levels should remain above pass levels in most areas as the trough axis remains well (1000 miles) offshore, around 145W, keeping the coldest air offshore.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 6500' - 7500' | 5500' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | * |
| Monday | Snow Level | 7000' - 8000' | 7000' - 8000' | 8000' - 9000' | * |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 6000' - 7000' | 6000' - 7500' | 7000' - 8000' | * |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 4500' - 5500' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 6000' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Snow Level 8000' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Nov 22, 2018
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.