Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Thursday
Saturday will be warm and sunny for many locations, under the influence of high pressure. East of the Cascade Crest and through the mountain gaps inversion conditions re-develop, keeping lower elevations significantly cooler. Moderate E winds through the mountain gaps will gust into the strong range at times. This should depress freezing levels for the mountain passes, although you can probably get into the warmer air aloft if you climb above 5000 ft.
A weakening system arrives and breaks down the ridge Saturday night into Sunday, but it partially splits south into Oregon. Models diverge regarding the amount of moisture brought in by this system. Some models have up to an inch of water falling on Mt. Hood and Paradise, while others have very little moisture reaching our region at all. Your best plan is to check the forecast on Saturday for more accurate water numbers.
The system should cool the air west of the Cascades Crest enough to slow and then switch the E flow to westerly by Sunday morning. However, with cool air in place on the east slopes and moving through the passes, precipitation is likely to fall as primarily snow for the major passes. Mt. Baker, Paradise, Hurricane Ridge, and parts of Mt. Hood are likely to have higher snow levels.
The system clears out Sunday afternoon and with it increasing sunshine and warmer air returns to the region.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Increasing generally light winds. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with increasing clouds late in the day. Highs in the low 40s. Light winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Increasing generally light winds. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with increasing clouds late in the day. Highs in the low 40s. Winds increasing to moderate in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Mild. Inversion below 5000 ft. Light winds in the north. Moderate E winds central Cascades. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny. Inversion below 5000 ft. Highs averaging in the low to mid 30's. Light winds in the north. Moderate E winds with strong gusts, central Cascades. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Inversion below 5000 ft. Increasing moderate 5000 ft winds and E wind through the mountain gaps. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving late in the day. Inversion below 5000 ft. Decreasing moderate 5000 ft winds and E wind through the mountain gaps. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Inversion below 5000 ft, particularly near and east of the Cascade Crest. Increasing moderate E wind through the mountain gaps. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving in the afternoon and lowering late in the day. Inversion below 5000 ft, particularly near and east of the Cascade Crest. Decreasing moderate E wind through the mountain gaps. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Mostly clear. Inversion below 5000 ft, particularly on the E slopes of Mt Hood. Moderate winds above treeline. |
| Saturday | Mostly sunny with high clouds arriving in the afternoon and lowering late in the day. Inversion below 5000 ft weakening in the afternoon. Moderate winds above treeline. |
Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, December 4, 2020
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Freezing Level * | 11000' | 11000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2500' | 3000' | 11500' | 11500' |
| Friday Night | Freezing Level * | 11500' | 11000' | 1000' | 1000' | 2000' | 2500' | 11500' | 11500' |
| Saturday Morning | Freezing Level * | 11500' | 11500' | 1500' | 1000' | 1500' | 2000' | 11500' | 11500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level * | 10500' | 11000' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 10000' | 10500' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level * | 7500' | 8000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 7500' | 7500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 6000' | 6000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1000' | 1500' | 6000' | 5000' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 5500' | 5000' | 1000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 5500' | 5000' | 2000' | 2500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 1500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Morning |
Freezing Level 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 10500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 5000' |
* 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
| Friday Night | Thursday | Thursday Night | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday | 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: 2:12 PM PST Friday, December 4, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 5 - 15 | S 5 - 15 | ESE 15 - 25 | ESE 10 - 20 | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | S 5 - 15 | SSE 5 - 15 | ESE 20 - 30 | ESE 15 - 25 | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | ESE 20 - 30 | ESE 15 - 25 | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | ESE 15 - 25 | ESE 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | S 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 5 - 15 |
| Friday Night | SSE 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SSE 10 - 20 | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SSW 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SSE 15 - 25 | SSE 20 - 30 | SE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | S 20 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | S 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Afternoon | S 20 - 30 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | SSE 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | ESE 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | SE 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | S 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 20 - 30 |
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: 2:12 PM PST Friday, December 4, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
Warm air continues to stream into the region Sunday night and Monday ahead of a frontal system dropping south from an Aleutian Low Pressure. Clouds and very light precipitation may skirt the Olympics and Mt Baker area on Monday. The front passing through our area is expected to bring a decent round of warm precipitation (rain and high elevation snow) on Tuesday before the frontal passage brings some cooling. Much of this is likely to fall as rain at at pass level with mild westerly flow returning. This front represents the start of a more active weather pattern for our region.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Freezing Level | 5000' - 6000' | 6000' - 7000' | 6500' - 8500' | * |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 6500' - 7500' | 7500' - 9000' | 9500' - 11500' | * |
| Monday Night | Snow Level | 7000' - 8000' | 8000' - 9000' | 10000' - 11000' | * |
| Tuesday | Snow Level | 7000' - 8000' | 8000' - 9000' | 10000' - 11000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 5000' - 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 6000' - 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 7500' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 8000' - 9000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 8000' - 9000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' - 8500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 9500' - 11500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Monday Night |
Snow Level 10000' - 11000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Tuesday |
Snow Level 10000' - 11000' |
* 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 4, 2020
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