Issued: 2:39 PM PST Friday, December 21, 2018
by Dennis D'Amico

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 Friday

A weak frontal boundary will weaken and stall over the Olympics and the far northwest Cascades Friday night and Saturday morning. A somewhat stronger north to south oriented frontal boundary will approach the coast Saturday afternoon, spreading light rain and snow inland late in the day. Expect cloud ceilings to lower for the Cascades in the afternoon with an uptick in winds as the front approaches. 

The front will split and weaken as it passes inland Saturday night as the associated surface low curls sharply northward into central British Columbia. Embedded disturbances in westerly flow behind the front will keep showers going throughout the day, with modest snow accumulations possible for the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood.  Snow levels will be remain cool Saturday night, but will begin to creep up during the day Sunday with rain mixing in at lower elevations. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Partly to mostly clear.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. Light west wind in the Passes becoming east overnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers.

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 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Friday Night Snow Level 2500' 1500' 0' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 3500' 2000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level * 4000' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 2000' 4000' 4500'
Saturday Evening Snow Level * 4000' 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 3000'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 4000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
0'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'

* 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 Friday Friday Night Friday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25
Leavenworth 0 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 0.25
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
0 LT 0.10 0.75 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.50
Friday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.25
Friday 0.25
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Friday 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.25
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25
Friday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50
Friday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50 - 0.75
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night LT 0.10
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Friday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Friday Night 0
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night 0.75
Friday 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10 S 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Friday Night S 5 - 15 SE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20 SE 5 - 15 SE 5 - 15 S 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night S 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening S 0 - 10
Friday Night SE 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night VAR 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night SW 0 - 10
Saturday Morning SE 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon S 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening W 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 20 - 30 NW 20 - 30
Friday Night SW 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 NW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night SW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon S 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 15 - 25
Friday Night W 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SSW 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Friday Night W 25 - 35
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Friday Night W 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon SW 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening NW 20 - 30
Friday Night NW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning SW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 25 - 35

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

Showers should diminish Sunday night.  On Monday, forecast models diverge on solutions. At this time, the most likely scenario is a low pressure system developing offshore and diving south, clipping the central Washington Cascades and bringing light to moderate precipitation to the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area with cool snow levels. Upper level ridging will build offshore around 130W on Christmas Day, providing us with, gasp, a mostly dry day. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Monday Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' 2500' - 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500' 1500' - 2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Tuesday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Tuesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'

* 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 Dec 21, 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.