Issued: 6:51 AM PST Wednesday, December 26, 2018
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Wednesday

A shortwave trough plunges southeast into the region behind a cold-front passing the mountains around noon on Wednesday. With seasonably cold temperatures in place, the mountains will see increasing snow in the morning and snow shower activity in the afternoon. During the day on Wednesday expect 2-6" in the passes, around 6" for Mt. Baker, and 6-8" for Paradise and Mt. Hood areas, while the Cascades east slopes pick up 1-3". Generally light snow shower activity will continue Wednesday night adding 1-4" in many locations along the Cascades west slopes and appoximately 6" at Mt. Hood, with 0-2" on the Cascades east slopes.  Periods of somewhat heavier snow possible in convergence bands over the central Washington Cascades.

Snow showers decrease and generally end on Thursday as flow turns N-NWerly. High clouds should continue to spill over a "dirty ridge" building offshore.

The pattern continues Thursday night as the ridge edges slightly closer. 

On Friday, a warm front arrives over the top of the ridge from the west, bringing moderate rain or snow and rising snow levels along with increasing SW winds.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

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

* 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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 SSE 15 - 25 SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening WNW 10 - 20 WSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning NW 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night NW 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening WSW 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening W 20 - 30
Wednesday Night W 20 - 30
Thursday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon W 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
Wednesday Morning WSW 30 - 45 SW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 45 - 65 WSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25 W 15 - 25 WNW 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 35 - 50
Wednesday Evening WNW 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 30 - 45
Wednesday Night N 10 - 20 N 20 - 30 NNW 20 - 30 NNW 30 - 45 NNW 30 - 45
Thursday Morning NNW 10 - 20 NNW 15 - 25 NNW 15 - 25 NNW 20 - 30 NNW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 30 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Wednesday Night N 10 - 20
Thursday Morning NNW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night N 20 - 30
Thursday Morning NNW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 35 - 50
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening WNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night NNW 20 - 30
Thursday Morning NNW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 45 - 65
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening WNW 20 - 30
Wednesday Night NNW 30 - 45
Thursday Morning NNW 20 - 30
Thursday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 50
Wednesday Evening WNW 30 - 45
Wednesday Night NNW 30 - 45
Thursday Morning NNW 25 - 35
Thursday Afternoon NNW 25 - 35

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 25, 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.