Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Friday
A minor weather disturbance weakens as it moves over a "dirty" ridge over northwest Washington this morning, bringing occasional light snow showers during the morning hours.
With cold air in place, a significant system will impact the area from late Saturday into Monday, bringing sizeable snow accumulations to most mountain locations. Areas favored by southerly flow such as Mt. Baker, Paradise, and Mt. Hood will experience the heaviest snowfall. The frontal system approaches the Olympics late Saturday and will spread into the Cascades overnight. Moderate to occasionally strong crest-level winds (not on the same scale as last Thursday) will accompany the precipitation. East winds will increase Saturday with gradients peaking late in the day before gradually easing Sunday night. A surface front will pass early Sunday morning. The shift to westerly flow will allow the potential for snow to mix with rain at Snoqualmie Pass level during the day on Sunday.
Light to moderate snow showers will continue under post-frontal flow Sunday and weaken Sunday night into Monday as a closed low drops south of the region into California.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Saturday | Periods of light snow. Moderate wind increasing to strong by evening. |
Mt. Baker
| Saturday | Periods of light to moderate snow becoming light later in the day. Light to moderate winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Saturday | Periods of light snow. Light winds increasing to moderate in the afternoon. East wind through the pass increasing throughout the day. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Saturday | Cloudy an occasional snow shower possible. Light to moderate winds in the morning becoming moderate. East winds increasing throughout the day. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Saturday | Cloudy with light to moderate winds in the morning becoming moderate by afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Saturday | Cloudy with light to moderate winds in the morning becoming moderate by afternoon. |
Issued: 7:03 AM PST Saturday, December 22, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level * | 3500' | 1000' | 0' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 4000' | 2500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3500' | 4500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 500' | 500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' | 3500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 3500' | 2000' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (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 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (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 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (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 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Saturday | Saturday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0.75 | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | 0 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0.50 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 0 |
| Saturday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
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: 7:03 AM PST Saturday, December 22, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 | SE 25 - 35 | ESE 15 - 25 | SE 15 - 25 | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | S 35 - 50 | SE 30 - 45 | E 30 - 45 | ESE 30 - 45 | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 | SE 20 - 30 | SSE 20 - 30 | SE 20 - 30 | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Evening | S 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | SE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | E 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Evening | S 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | SE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | E 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | ESE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Sunday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 45 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 50 | SSW 25 - 35 | SSW 25 - 35 | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | S 45 - 65 | SSE 35 - 50 | SSW 50 - 70 | SSW 50 - 70 | SW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 30 - 45 | SSW 30 - 45 | SW 35 - 50 | SW 45 - 65 | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | WNW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Evening | S 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | SSE 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Night | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Sunday Morning | SW 20 - 30 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | SW 35 - 50 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Evening | SSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | SW 45 - 65 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Evening | SW 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Night | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Sunday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Sunday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
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.