Issued: 2:59 PM PST Saturday, December 14, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Sunday

A diffuse trough lingers over the Pacific Northwest with weak upper-level disturbances moving across the region on NW flow. Each disturbance spawns or maintains scattered to isolated snow shower activity or weak convergence zones as they pass, taking advantage of the moisture in place at low levels of the atmosphere. A weak low moves onshore over central Oregon this evening and weak upper-level shortwave trough moves across northern and eastern Washington on Sunday. We're keeping a chance of precipitation in the forecast through the day on Sunday, with light winds and an unstable air mass keeping light snow showers, snow squalls, or weak convergence zones (central Cascades) over an area for several hours at a time with minimal movement. Some areas could pick up several inches of snow in a few hours, but timing and locations are very difficult to forecast.

Northwest flow increases aloft on Sunday evening along with high clouds as a weak ridge moves into the nearshore waters and the next system tries to work its way over the top of the ridge. At this time it appears that Sunday night should be mostly dry.

On Monday, the ridge moves over our region as a warm front lifts northward across the coastal waters and skirts western Washington, bringing warmer temperatures west of the Cascade Crest along with increased lowering and thickening clouds or very light rain and snow for the Olympics and Mt. Baker. A light E flow also develops through the Cascade mountain gaps with entrenched cold air E of the Cascade Crest spilling through.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Mostly clear.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Cloudy with slow-moving isolated snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers possible near the Cascade Crest. Colder.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers for Snoqualmie and isolated snow showers for Stevens Pass. Weak convergence is possible. Colder. Light W wind through the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered to isolated snow showers possible. Colder.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with scattered to isolated snow showers possible. Colder.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Night WSW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 0 - 10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 0 - 10
Saturday Night W 5 - 15
Sunday Morning W 10 - 20
Sunday 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
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 10 - 20 WNW 0 - 10
Saturday Night WNW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 20 - 30 NW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning NW 5 - 15 NW 10 - 20 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 10 - 20
Saturday Night WNW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning NW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening W 5 - 15
Saturday Night W 10 - 20
Sunday Morning NW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 15 - 25
Saturday Night WNW 25 - 35
Sunday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Night WNW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Saturday Night NW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon WNW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday

The ridge slides east of our region as an elongated N-S trough moves into our coastal waters on Monday night. The trough flattens and weakens as it eases towards the coast, arriving by Tuesday night, bringing cloudy conditions and moderating temperatures out ahead of it with some light rain and snow at elevated snow levels favoring the Olympics and Baker regions late Tuesday through Wednesday morning. Entrenched cold air should remain in place along the E slopes of the Cascades and spills through the Cascade passes on moderate to strong E winds Monday night through Wednesday

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000' *
Tuesday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000' *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 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.

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 14, 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.