Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Saturday
A trough centered over the Intermountain West will bring cool N-NW flow to the region as a broad ridge builds offshore on Thursday. The flow will be sufficiently moist to keep low clouds, fog, and a chance of flurries in the forecast. Very weak NW-SE oriented convergence zones will locally enhance snow and cloud in parts of the west slopes Cascades foothills and into the lower passes. Clouds will decrease throughout the day.
Late Thursday night some light snow will arrive in the Olympic mountains from the west as a significant warm front approaches. The Cascades will remain clear and cold.
On Friday, the warm front will be draped parallel to the British Colombia and Washington coastlines. Clouds will lower and thicken with light snow arriving in the Olympics in the morning and in the Cascades by early afternoon.
Friday night the warm front crosses the region bringing moderate to heavy snow changing to rain at Snoqualmie Pass around midnight as easterly flow in the evening switches to westerly, while Stevens Pass will change to rain after midnight.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday | Mostly sunny with light winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday | Partly sunny with scattered low cloud and fog. Light winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday | Mostly sunny. Light winds. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy with flurries in the morning then decreasing clouds. Light to moderate winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday | Mostly sunny in the morning. Clouds decreasing. Light winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered flurries. Becoming partly cloudy by afternoon. Moderate wind decreasing. |
Issued: 6:43 AM PST Thursday, December 27, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 1500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1000' | 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 3000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Thursday Evening | Freezing Level | 3000' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 500' | 1000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 500' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' | 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 1500' | 1500' | 1500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 1500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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
| Thursday | Thursday Night | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Saturday | LT 0.10 |
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: 6:43 AM PST Thursday, December 27, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 10 - 20 | WNW 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Friday Morning | SW 0 - 10 |
| Friday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | W 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 15 - 25 | NNW 20 - 30 | NNW 25 - 35 | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 | NW 15 - 25 | NNW 20 - 30 | NNW 20 - 30 | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | NW 10 - 20 | NW 10 - 20 | NNW 25 - 35 | NNW 30 - 45 | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 | NW 15 - 25 | NNW 25 - 35 | NNW 30 - 45 | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 | NW 10 - 20 | NW 20 - 30 | NNW 20 - 30 | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | NW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NNW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | NW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | NW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Morning | NW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | NW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | NNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | NNW 30 - 45 |
| Friday Morning | NNW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | NW 20 - 30 |
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 26, 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.