Issued: 8:20 AM PST Tuesday, December 31, 2019
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Tuesday

A warm and wet New Years storm system will impact the Pacific Northwest on a strong westerly flow. A warm front lifts northward over the region today with increasing rain and snow along with rising snow levels and moderate to strong winds. Temperatures are already above freezing at Snoqualmie Pass and should rise above freezing by late morning at Stevens Pass, changing any pass level snow to all rain. The Mt. Baker Base is also likely to see a changeover to rain sometime this morning. Some cool air should linger east of the Cascade Crest, keeping snow throughout the day in Mazama and Washington Pass regions. Most areas west of the Cascade Crest stand to pick up significant precipitation today, but Mt. Rainier should partially block Crystal Mountain.

The cold-frontal rainband peaks Tuesday afternoon in the north and central Washington Cascades and then shifts southward to the SW Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood area during the evening and maintains over Mt. Hood overnight as a cold front moves into the region. The cold front should bring cooling and moderate to heavy rain and snow showers late Tuesday night through the day on Wednesday. Paradise, Mt. Baker and to a lesser extent Stevens Pass can all expect significant Snow accumulations after the rain turns back to snow, while Washington Pass should stay all snow throughout the event.

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 Snow Level 6000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level 8000' 4500' 4000' 5500' 6000' 6500' 7000' 8000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level 7000' 5500' 5000' 6000' 5500' 6500' 7000' 8500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5000' 5500' 5500' 6500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
6500'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
Tuesday Evening Snow Level
8500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
6500'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'

* 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 Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.75 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.00 - 1.50 1.50 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.25
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 1.50 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 1.50 1.50 1.00
Mission Ridge 0.25 0.50 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Paradise 1.50 - 2.00 2.50 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass 0.75 1.50 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 2.00 - 2.50 1.00 - 1.50
0.25 2.50 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.50
Tuesday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.50
Tuesday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday Night 2.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 1.50
Tuesday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 2.00 - 2.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0.25
Tuesday Night 2.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 SW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35 S 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening W 25 - 35 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 40 - 55
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30 W 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening W 25 - 35
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 40 - 55
Wednesday Morning W 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening W 25 - 35
Tuesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night W 40 - 55
Wednesday Morning W 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 45

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 W 35 - 45 WSW 35 - 45 W 45 - 60 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 45 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 60 - 80 WSW 30 - 40 WSW 60 - 80 WSW 60 - 80 W 60 - 80
Tuesday Evening W 45 - 60 W 55 - 75 W 55 - 75 W 55 - 75 W 60 - 80
Tuesday Night W 35 - 50 W 40 - 55 W 45 - 60 W 50 - 65 W 60 - 80
Wednesday Morning W 25 - 35 WNW 45 - 60 W 40 - 55 W 40 - 55 W 45 - 60
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning W 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 60 - 80
Tuesday Evening W 45 - 60
Tuesday Night W 35 - 50
Wednesday Morning W 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WSW 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Evening W 55 - 75
Tuesday Night W 40 - 55
Wednesday Morning WNW 45 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon W 45 - 60
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning W 45 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 60 - 80
Tuesday Evening W 55 - 75
Tuesday Night W 45 - 60
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 55
Wednesday Afternoon W 40 - 55
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 60 - 80
Tuesday Evening W 55 - 75
Tuesday Night W 50 - 65
Wednesday Morning W 40 - 55
Wednesday Afternoon W 35 - 45
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning WNW 45 - 60
Tuesday Afternoon W 60 - 80
Tuesday Evening W 60 - 80
Tuesday Night W 60 - 80
Wednesday Morning W 45 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon W 45 - 60

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 30, 2019

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