Issued: 1:53 PM PST Sunday, November 22, 2020
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 Sunday night through Wednesday

A weak weather system will sweep through the area Sunday night into Monday morning bringing light precipitation and windy conditions to most locations. This first storm isn't too much to get excited about. Snow accumulations appear modest, with the bulk of the activity focuses on the Cascade volcanoes in the southern part of the region. At these trailheads, you could find as much as 6-8" by Monday afternoon. As the system exits the region, look for winds to turn more northwesterly and decrease, at least for the morning hours. Scattered showers will remain in many of the usual locations like Baker, Rainier, Hood, and the Passes. Other spots will be drier, but don't rule out a stray shower dropping a dusting of snow. 

The lull in the weather will be short-lived as a much larger and well-developed storm system approaches the Northwest Tuesday. A warm front associated with the low-pressure will cause snow levels to rise during the day. Fortunately, at the moment, there doesn't appear to be too much precipitation associate with the warming. Heavier precipitation arrives with colder air in the afternoon and early evening. Sites further west and north should experience significant rain and snow before sunset, while other locations won't see the bulk of the precipitation reach them till the evening hours. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Rain and snow showers. Light southerly winds.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Rain and snow. Moderate southerly winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers. Light southwesterly winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Rain and snow showers. Easterly flow at the Passes turning westerly overnight. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Sunday Night Rain and snow heaviest near the volcanoes. Moderate ridgetop winds.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Rain and snow, especially after mid-night. Moderate to strong westerly winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Snow Level * 3500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level 3500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Monday Night Snow Level 3500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level 4000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
Monday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500'
Monday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Monday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Monday Night Snow Level
3500'
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(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 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Leavenworth LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 0 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
0.25 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Sunday Night 0.25
Wednesday 0.50
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 35 - 45
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night SW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night WSW 15 - 25
Monday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 25 - 35
Sunday Night W 25 - 35
Monday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night WSW 25 - 35
Monday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Night WSW 35 - 45
Monday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon NW 20 - 30

Extended Weather Synopsis for Wednesday night through Wednesday

A strong storm system will impact the region right as we move into the extended forecast period. Look for precipitation to continue in the mountains Tuesday night as the cold front continues to sweep across the area and brings snow levels back down. The associated low-pressure finally moves through Wednesday, keeping plenty of shower activity dropping snow on the west-slopes of the Cascades.  Right now, the highest accumulations appear to be around the volcanoes and a Puget Sound Convergence Zone. Look for precipitation to taper from north to south late Wednesday evening. A weak high-pressure ridge appears to shift into the Northwest Thursday providing us a break in the weather and a nice Thanksgiving day.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Snow Level 2500' - 4000' 2500' - 4000' 3000' - 4500' *
Wednesday Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level 1500' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
1500' - 3000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2500' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Thursday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 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.

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

Previous forecast from Nov 21, 2020

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