Issued: 3:59 PM PST Saturday, December 28, 2019
by Dallas Glass

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 Wednesday

Showers should move into the mountains this evening as a weak storm slides south along the coast. This system appears to fizzle out as precipitation moves onshore limiting any notable accumulations. Look for light rain and snow showers overnight near and west of the Cascade crest. There just isn't enough momentum to carry much, if any, water to areas further east. Weather stations Saturday afternoon already indicate warm air moving into the western and southern portions of the forecast area. Expect temperatures and snow levels to continue to nudge upward overnight. Cool air east of the Cascades should remain in place. Easterly flow will bring cool air into the Passes causing locally lower freezing levels. It looks like Stevens Pass should stay mostly snow, but Snoqualmie and White Pass could see mixed precipitation and rain later Sunday night. 

Showers move south Sunday. Any lingering precipitation should focus around Rainier, St Helens, Adams, and Hood. In areas further north and east, look for drier weather with skies gradually breaking. Temperatures should cool slightly as the system exits the region and upper-level winds become more northerly. Dry conditions ought to persist Sunday night and Monday as a high-pressure ridge builds over the area.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers. Warming.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Cloudy. Isolated showers near the Cascade crest. Light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers. Easterly flow may develop multiple freezing levels.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Isolated rain and snow showers.

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 * 5500' 4000' 3000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 5500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level * 6000' 5000' 3500' 2000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 4500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level * 6000' 5000' 4000' 2000' 3000' 3500' 5000' 4000'
Sunday Evening Freezing Level * 6000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 2500' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level * 5500' 3500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level * 5500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(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 Wednesday Wednesday Night Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 0 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 0 0
Paradise LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 0
LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

There's lots of interest in the long term forecast as weather models show a notable pattern change beginning New Year's Eve. It's too early to speculate about accumulations and timing, but there is general agreement that the storm door opens. Several waves of moisture appear poised to move into the region over the middle and end of next week. Weather models seem to be struggling with battling warm and cold air during the precipitation. Consequently, there is low confidence in these long-range snow levels. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Freezing Level 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 5000' 5000' - 6000' *
Tuesday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3000' - 4000' 4000' - 5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3500' - 5000' 4000' - 5500' 5500' - 6500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
4000' - 5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level
5000' - 6500'

* 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 28, 2019

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