Issued: 2:30 PM PST Monday, December 24, 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 Monday night through Thursday

A weak low pressure system is diving south into California, clipping Mt. Hood with light snow and rain this afternoon but leaving Washington State dry. High clouds from the system have rotated as far north as the south Washington Cascades. Weak easterly flow through the Cascade Passes has pulled low clouds through from the east side on an otherwise fair weather day. 

A broad area of high pressure will build offshore overnight and quickly shift over the Pacific Northwest on Christmas Day. Generally dry and cool conditions are expected. A few high clouds from the next Pacific frontal system may reach the Olympics in the afternoon but precipitation should hold off until Wednesday morning.  A deep low in Gulf of Alaska will curl north and the front will split as it passes inland Wednesday afternoon. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Monday Night Mostly clear.
Mt. Baker
Monday Night Mostly clear.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Monday Night Valley and low elevation clouds, otherwise mostly clear.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Monday Night Areas of low clouds, otherwise mostly clear. Variable wind in the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with high clouds in the evening, then mostly clear.
Mt. Hood
Monday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow in the evening, then mostly cloudy.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Monday Evening Snow Level 2500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level 1500' 1000' 0' 0' 500' 500' 1000' 2000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 2000' 1000' 0' 0' 1000' 500' 1500' 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level 3000' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level 2500' 1500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 2500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 2500' 1500' 500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 2500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 2000' 1000' 0' 500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
0'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Monday Evening NNW 5 - 15 N 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 N 0 - 10 NE 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Monday Evening NNW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Evening N 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Monday Evening N 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening NE 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NNW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening N 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning W 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening N 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NE 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon W 5 - 15

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
Monday Evening NW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Morning NW 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Monday Evening NW 0 - 10
Monday Night NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Morning NW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon NW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

A secondary shortwave trailing the initial frontal passage should provide an extra oomph of snow to the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Wednesday night.  Showers will decrease everywhere late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.  A strong ridge of high pressure will build offshore Thursday for mostly dry conditions. N-NW flow may trap moisture along the west slopes of the Cascades, making for a cloudier west slopes forecast.  Warm frontal moisture will begin to tamp down the ridge on late Thursday night and Friday, with some precipitation spilling over the top into the Olympics and north Cascades by Friday afternoon.  Snow levels will remain on the cool side, with just a slight warming trend forecast at the end of the week. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Wednesday Night Snow Level 500' - 1500' 1500' - 2500' 2500' - 3500'
Thursday Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 500' - 1500' 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Thursday Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
Friday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Thursday Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
Friday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
Friday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'

* 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 24, 2018

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