Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Sunday
Merry Christmas folks! Unfortunately, Santa couldn't make up his mind about the storm track this holiday season and we're stuck in a split flow pattern with a gradually filling trough over the region. A weak shortwave ridge noses into the region Wednesday night. ENE winds should develop and push moisture lingering over the Olympics, SW Washington, and Mt. Hood region away from the area, bringing clearing skies and strong radiational cooling to the entire Pacific Northwest Wednesday night.
A system arriving from the NW flattens the ridge as the system approaches on Thursday, spreading increasing clouds along with increasing SSW winds. Some light precipitation may reach the Olympic mountains by the end of the day.
The modest front crosses the region in the middle of the night on Thursday, bringing light to occasionally moderate snow and wind. Temperatures should remain cold as flow switches from E to W at the Passes as the front move through. Light snow showers linger behind the front on Friday. All told, the system is expected to bring 0.5" of snow water equivalent or less across the region, with only very light accumulations east of the Cascade Crest.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Wednesday Night | Clearing skies during the evening, then becoming mostly clear. Cool. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds lowering by the end of the day. |
Mt. Baker
| Wednesday Night | Clear skies. Cool. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds lowering by the end of the day. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Wednesday Night | Clear skies with temperature inversions intensifying overnight. Fog or low cloud may develop. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds increasing. Moderate to strong inversion weakening as the day progresses. Fog or low cloud may develop. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Wednesday Night | Mid and high-level clouds clearing during the evening hours, then becoming mostly clear. Light E wind through the Passes. Fog or low clouds may develop through the mountain gaps. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds lowering by the end of the day. Light E winds through the mountain gaps. Fog or low cloud may develop. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Wednesday Night | Mid and high-level clouds clearing during the evening hours, then becoming mostly clear. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds lowering by the end of the day. |
Mt. Hood
| Wednesday Night | Clouds clearing during the evening hours, then becoming mostly clear. |
| Thursday | Clear skies with high clouds lowering by the end of the day. |
Issued: 2:17 PM PST Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | Freezing Level * | 2500' | 1000' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Night | Freezing Level * | 2500' | 500' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Morning | Freezing Level * | 2000' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 3500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level * | 2500' | 1000' | 0' | 0' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 1000' | 500' | 500' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 2000' | 1500' | 0' | 0' | 1500' | 2000' | 1500' | 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 0' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 0' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Wednesday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
* 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 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 | LT 0.25 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Night | 0 |
| Sunday | 0 |
| Sunday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Sunday | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:17 PM PST Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 | SSW 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 | E 0 - 10 | E 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | S 0 - 10 | S 0 - 10 | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SSW 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | S 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | S 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | E 0 - 10 |
| Wednesday Night | E 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | SE 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | ENE 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | NNE 5 - 15 | NE 5 - 15 | N 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 | VAR 0 - 10 | NNW 5 - 15 | NNW 5 - 15 | NE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WNW 10 - 20 | WNW 5 - 15 | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 30 - 40 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | ENE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | VAR 0 - 10 |
| Thursday Morning | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NNE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | NE 5 - 15 |
| Wednesday Night | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Morning | WNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Wednesday Evening | N 10 - 20 |
| Wednesday Night | NE 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Morning | NNW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
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: 2:17 PM PST Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
On Friday night, the ridge axis moves to the coastline along with an approaching warm front with cold air in place over the PNW. The warm front lifts across NW Washington on Saturday as the shortwave ridge transits the region and flattens, bringing moderating temperatures. Precipitation spreads into the region Saturday afternoon as the cold front approaches the near-shore waters, arriving Saturday night with a re-inforcing system bringing more precipitation on Sunday. With the warm front removing much of the colder air by early Saturday, precipitation type at the Cascade Passes will be much more dependent upon the colder E flow, which appears to be in place for frozen precipitation.
The two systems forecast for the weekend should have more moisture than the one arriving Thursday night.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Night | Freezing Level | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 2500' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Saturday | Snow Level | 1000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 3500' - 5500' | * |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 3000' - 4000' | 3000' - 4000' | 4500' - 5500' | * |
| Sunday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | 2000' - 3000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 500' - 1500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 1000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Saturday |
Snow Level 3500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday |
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 25, 2019
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