Issued: 7:11 AM PST Saturday, December 5, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday & Wednesday

High pressure will lead to another dry day across the region as we await a weak frontal system that's well offshore this morning.  Free air freezing levels are around 11,000' across the Pacific Northwest and above freezing temperature are being realized at all weather stations above roughly 5000-6000'.  Strong offshore flow continues to drive colder air through the Passes and occasionally low clouds. At 6 am this morning, it's 9F in Mazama and 51F at Pan Dome at the Mt Baker Ski area! 

The frontal system will split as it approaches the coast and should spread increasing cloud cover mainly for the Mt Hood region this afternoon. As the front weakens and a weak surface low drifts inland overnight into the south-central Puget sound, light rain and snow should develop along the west slopes of the Cascades from about Stevens Pass and southward in the early morning hours. Snow levels will come down, but this will not be a cold system. Precipitation should largely stay south of the north Cascades overnight. Moderate to strong easterly offshore flow will ease overnight in the Passes. 

Light post-frontal showers should follow on Sunday morning with snow levels rising to 4000-5000' across the area. A partial clearing trend is likely for the south Washington Cascades and Mt Hood area by the afternoon.  

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
Saturday Morning Freezing Level * 11000' 11000' 10000' 10000' 10000' 11000' 11000' 11000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level * 7500' 7000' 4000' 5000' 5500' 8500' 7500' 8500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level * 6500' 6500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 6500' 6500' 6500'
Saturday Night Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500' 5500' 4500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow 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

Saturday Saturday Night Wednesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
0 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Wednesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SE 20 - 30 SE 20 - 30 SE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SE 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning SE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 5 - 15
Sunday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 15 - 25
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon SE 10 - 20
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SE 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 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 Morning SSW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 S 20 - 30 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 S 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 2 SSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WNW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 2
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning S 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Evening SSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10

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 4, 2020

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