Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 29, 2019
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Wednesday

A weak frontal system that dissipated over the coast this afternoon has given way to abundant sunshine and mild freezing levels for the Olympics and west slopes of Cascades. The Passes have largely stayed socked in as low clouds have been pulled through the main mountain gaps with moderate easterly flow and pass level winds. There was a notable 13F difference between the east and west side of Stevens Pass ski resort this afternoon at roughly the same elevation. 

Skies should remain mostly clear on the west side of the crest tonight with the same areas of low clouds for the Passes and east slopes. Light warm frontal moisture should brush mainly the north Cascades and Olympics on Monday with increasing clouds of the central and south Washington Cascades in the afternoon. 

The real action will begin late Monday night into Tuesday as the upper level ridging over the region begins to buckle and open the door for a 160 kt jet. Strong WNW flow aloft will force milder air into the region during the day Tuesday.  Strong east flow through the Cascade Passes should help keep low snow levels initially, but we may see a period of freezing rain during the transition period Tuesday afternoon.  In general, expect storm conditions with rising snow levels for all locations by Tuesday afternoon.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Mostly clear becoming partly cloudy after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Mostly clear becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Areas of low clouds valleys and lower slopes.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with areas of low clouds and fog. Light to moderate east winds in the Passes decreasing overnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Partly to mostly clear.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Partly to mostly clear.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Freezing Level * 6000' 5000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level * 5500' 5000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4500' 4500' 4000'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 4000' 4000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500'
Monday Evening Snow Level 4500' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 5500'
Monday Night Snow Level 5500' 3500' 2000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 5500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 6000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 5000' 4500' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Monday Night Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow 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

Sunday 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 1.00
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0.25
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.75
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0.25
0 0 0 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.75
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.75
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.25

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

Heavier precipitation will likely arrive Tuesday night with a peak in snow levels before a cold front sweeps through. Orographic showers in westerly flow on Wednesday should continue moderate precipitation as snow levels nudge downward during the day.  Colder air and continued showers should arrive late Wednesday night through Thursday. The pattern remains active through the end of the week with additional storms likely. 

 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 4500' - 6500' 4500' - 6500' 6000' - 8000'
Wednesday Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 1500' - 2500' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Thursday Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500' - 6500'
Wednesday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6000' - 8000'
Wednesday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 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.

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 29, 2019

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