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 Sunday
Welcome back as we start up mountain weather forecasts for 2019-2020 cool season. A well-developed occluded frontal system is headed toward Seattle and the associated trough should cross the region Monday night. The frontal system will bring rain and snow throughout the region Monday night, with a weak dose of post-frontal rain and snow shower activity behind the front, primarily Tuesday morning. The prevailing ridge over the western US has left us with a lot of warm air and this system doesn't provide enough of a cool down to bring much snow, except at the highest elevations, particularly in the North Cascades above 4500-5000 ft and further south above 5000-6000 ft. Snow levels should lower to near 4000 ft across the west slopes of the Cascades Tuesday as rain and snow shower activity cuts off in the N Cascades and gradually decreases elsewhere. Expect several inches of snow for Mt Baker Base, Stevens Pass Base, and Washington Pass to fall toward the end of the storm, before this system exits the region. Expect significantly more sunny weather east of the Cascade Crest on Tuesday.
Ridge-top winds have been impressive as this system approaches, bringing strong to extreme winds to high elevation, exposed locations in the Mt Rainier area, however this momentum is not reaching the lower elevations of the atmosphere and winds are expected to decrease significantly by Tuesday morning.
The trough should exit the region Tuesday night, leaving a cooling N, NE flow in it's wake, giving us some more seasonable mountain temperatures and dry, mostly clear conditions.
A strong ridge will build into the region on Wednesday, bringing sunny skies and skyrocketing freezing levels that are unusually high for this late in November. Light easterly flow will re-develop with some cooler air ushered through the passes.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Monday Night | Light rain and high elevation snow decreasing at gradually lowering snow levels. |
| Tuesday | Clouds giving way to partial sunshine with a chance of a snow flurry early. |
Mt. Baker
| Monday Night | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow decreasing in the early morning hours. Slightly lowering freezing levels. |
| Tuesday | Rain and snow showers decreasing and ending in the morning hours. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Monday Night | Light rain and snow decreasing by early morning. Snow down to Washington Pass level. |
| Tuesday | Snow flurries and sprinkles early, then becoming partly sunny. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Monday Night | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow with snow levels remaining above pass level. |
| Tuesday | Decreasing light rain and snow showers, mainly during the morning hours. Snow levels dropping to near Stevens Pass level. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Monday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest at Paradise and increasing during the early morning hours. |
| Tuesday | Decreasing light rain and snow showers, mainly in the morning hours, tapering to sprinkles or flurries with partial sunshine in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Monday Night | Moderate rain and high elevation snow. |
| Tuesday | Moderate rain and snow tapering to decreasing light rain and snow showers from late morning onwards. |
Issued: 3:35 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2019
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 * | 5500' | 4500' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' | 5500' | 6600' |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 4500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning | Snow Level | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' |
| Tuesday Evening | Freezing Level | 6000' | 3500' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5500' |
| Tuesday Night | Freezing Level | 6500' | 3000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3500' | 4000' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Morning | Freezing Level * | 8500' | 5000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 6000' | 6000' | 5000' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 10000' | 8000' | 6500' | 6500' | 7500' | 8000' | 8000' | 6000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 6000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening |
Snow Level 6600' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Evening |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Freezing Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 6000' (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 | Sunday | Sunday Night | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Paradise | 0.75 -1.00 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| White Pass | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Timberline | 0.75 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Sunday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Monday Night | 0.75 |
| Sunday | 0.50 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
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: 3:35 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SE 15 - 25 | SE 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WNW 5 - 15 | ESE 0 - 10 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 | NNE 0 - 10 | NW 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 | NNE 5 - 15 | WNW 5 - 15 | WNW 0 - 10 | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SE 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SE 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | NNE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | W 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SE 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SE 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | ESE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Morning | NNE 0 - 10 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | S 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Morning | NW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Monday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | WNW 0 - 10 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Monday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| 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 | SSW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 30 | WSW 35 - 50 | SW 35 - 50 | SW 45 - 65 |
| Monday Night | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 30 - 45 | W 30 - 45 | W 35 - 50 |
| Tuesday Morning | NE 10 - 20 | N 15 - 25 | WNW 20 - 30 | WNW 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 15 - 25 | N 20 - 30 | N 15 - 25 | N 15 - 25 | N 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | NE 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 15 - 25 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 20 - 30 |
| Monday Night | W 10 - 20 |
| Tuesday Morning | N 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Monday Night | W 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 35 - 50 |
| Monday Night | W 30 - 45 |
| Tuesday Morning | WNW 15 - 25 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Monday Evening | SW 45 - 65 |
| Monday Night | W 35 - 50 |
| Tuesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Afternoon | N 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.
Issued: 3:35 PM PST Monday, November 18, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Expect the ridge of high pressure to dominate the weather regime with 8000-11000 ft freezing levels, giving us warm, sunny days and generally mild nights. Light easterly flow should remain in place through Friday morning. This may keep the passes and east side locations cool and cloudy; we will keep an eye on this.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level | 7000' - 9000' | 7500' - 9500' | 8000' - 10000' | * |
| Thursday | Freezing Level | 10000' - 11000' | 10000' - 11000' | 10000' - 11000' | * |
| Thursday Night | Freezing Level | 8500' - 9500' | 8500' - 9500' | 11000' - 12000' | * |
| Friday | Freezing Level | 9500' - 10500' | 10000' - 11000' | 10500' - 11500' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 7000' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 7500' - 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 8500' - 9500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 8000' - 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday |
Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Freezing Level 11000' - 12000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Freezing Level 10500' - 11500' (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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Previous forecast from Apr 27, 2019
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.