Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Thursday
A day of quiet and benign weather has been delivered to the Pacific Northwest on Christmas, courtesy of upper level ridging offshore. Weak easterly flow in the Passes will keep low clouds and fog hanging around this morning. Skies should do a better job of clearing in the Passes this afternoon versus yesterday, but it is always a tough call this time of year. Low clouds will hang onto the lower slopes on the east side of the Cascades all day.
An approaching frontal system will spread high clouds into the region late this afternoon and evening, but precipitation will hold off for the Washington Cascades until early Wednesday morning, except beginning slightly earlier for the Olympics and Mt. Baker area.
This should be a rather humdrum front as the parent low in the Gulf of Alaska spins in place and the frontal boundary passing through the Cascades around 1 PM splits and weakens. Snow levels should stay cool for all locations. A trailing shortwave diving south will approach the Olympic Peninsula later in the day, to provide a secondary shot of precipitation Wednesday night.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from NWAC!
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny, then increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny, then increasing high clouds in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny mid and high elevations. Cloudy lower slopes. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday | Areas of low cloud and fog in the morning. Becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Light east wind becoming variable in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday | Mostly sunny. |
Issued: 6:57 AM PST Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | Freezing Level | 2500' | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 3500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening | Freezing Level | 3000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 1000' | 0' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level * | 3000' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 2000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 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.
Precipitation Forecast
| Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 0 |
| Tuesday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
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: 6:57 AM PST Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 | NW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 | S 5 - 15 | S 0 - 10 | S 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 15 - 30 | SSE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | S 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | SW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 | NW 5 - 15 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 | WNW 0 - 10 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 | W 0 - 10 | WNW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | W 15 - 30 | W 15 - 30 | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 35 - 45 | WSW 35 - 45 | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 25 - 40 | W 25 - 40 | W 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Evening | W 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | W 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Night | W 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 25 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Evening | NW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 35 - 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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Dec 24, 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.