Issued: 7:05 AM PST Tuesday, December 17, 2019
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Thursday

The upper level ridge that was over the West Coast yesterday has shifted east over the Intermountain West today. Weak warm frontal moisture should continue to glance the Olympics and north Cascades today, producing periods of light rain and snow. Cloudy skies forecast for the central and north Washington Cascades today should start to break up over the south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. Offshore easterly flow will be a factor in terms of snow/freezing levels today. Cold air on the east side of the Cascades will locally suppress freezing levels in the Cascade Passes and even other areas like Crystal Mt with warmer air found further west of the Cascade crest and down toward Mt. Hood. 

A weak north-south frontal band will ease into the area tomorrow bringing light precipitation and lowering cloud ceilings in the afternoon. Easterly winds will keep snow levels low for this first wave of moisture.  A consolidated jet stream will take aim at the PNW later Wednesday night and Thursday, setting up a more active storm pattern.  

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
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level * 5000' 5000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 2500' 4000' 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level * 4500' 4000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4500' 6500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level * 4500' 4000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4500' 6500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level * 4500' 4000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 4000' 5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 4000' 3500' 0' 0' 1500' 1500' 3500' 3000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(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

Tuesday Tuesday Night Thursday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
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
0 0 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Thursday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Thursday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Thursday 0
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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening S 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night S 15 - 25 S 10 - 20 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30 S 10 - 20 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SSW 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night S 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening S 15 - 25
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night S 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Tuesday Evening S 15 - 25
Tuesday Night S 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon SE 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SW 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 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.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening SW 35 - 45 SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 25 - 35 SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35 SW 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening SW 35 - 45
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night SW 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Evening SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon SW 40 - 50

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 16, 2019

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