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 & Sunday
Following yesterday's storm system, generally 2-4 inches of snow accumulated at NWAC stations through early this morning. Leftover showers today should allow for some further light accumulations along the west slopes of the Cascades.
The weather pattern really ramps up beginning Saturday, as a frontal system extending from the parent upper low in the NE Pacific reaches the Olympics Peninsula Saturday morning and slowly spreads inland during the day.
Heavy rain and snow will focus on Olympics and north Cascades for much of Saturday, largely missing areas further south during the daylight hours. There should only be a modest bump in snow levels Saturday afternoon and evening. As the north-south oriented front slowly pushes inland Saturday night, more moderate rain and snow will develop for the volcanoes and favored southerly flow areas like Crystal mountain. The Cascade Passes should remain cool with easterly flow, but should see lighter precipitation totals.
Weather Forecast
Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
| Friday |
Mostly cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Increasing clouds overnight. |
| Saturday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing over the Olympics and north Cascades. Cloudy elsewhere. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Moderate to heavy rain and snow Olympics and north Cascades. Light rain and snow central and south Cascades. Cool easterly flow in the passes. Slight warming trend. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to moderate rain and snow, except locally heavy north Cascades. Cool easterly flow in the passes. |
East slopes of the Washington Cascades
| Friday |
Partly to mostly cloudy with isolated light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Increasing clouds overnight. |
| Saturday Morning |
Light rain and snow developing over the northeast Cascades. Mostly cloudy central and southeast Cascades. |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Moderate rain and snow northeast Cascades. Light rain and snow central and southeast Cascades. Slight warming trend. |
| Saturday Night |
Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. |
Mt. Hood Area
| Friday |
Mostly cloudy with light rain and snow showers. |
| Friday Night |
Increasing clouds late tonight |
| Saturday |
Mostly cloudy with occasional light rain and snow. Increasing alpine winds. |
| Saturday Night |
Light rain and snow. Moderate alpine winds. Slight warming trend. |
Issued: 7:25 AM PST Friday, December 4, 2015
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | Snow Level * | 4000' | 3000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3000' | ' | 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 6000' | 4000' | 2500' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 4500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level * | 5500' | 4500' | 3000' | ' | ' | 3500' | ' | 5000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level ' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level ' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 5000' (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 | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ridge | LT 0.10 | 1.50 - 2.50 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.25 - 0.50 | 2.50 - 3.50 |
| Washington Pass | LT 0.25 | 0 - 1.00 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0 - 0.50 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | LT 0.10 | 0.75 - 1.00 |
| Paradise | 0 - 0.50 | 0 - 1.00 |
| White Pass | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 - 0.50 | LT 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: 7:25 AM PST Friday, December 4, 2015
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 | SW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | --- - | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 | S 10 - 20 | SE 10 - 20 | --- - | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 | SE 15 - 30 | SSE 15 - 25 | --- - | S 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SE 15 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | S 15 - 25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SE 15 - 30 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Saturday Morning | SE 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | SSE 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | --- - |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | --- - |
| Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon - Friday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Morning | S 10 - 20 |
| Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night | S 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | SW 15 - 25 | W 20 - 30 | WSW 20 - 30 | --- - | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 | SW 15 - 25 | SW 25 - 35 | --- - | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 60 - 70 | SW 35 - 45 | SW 45 - 55 | --- - | SW 65 - |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 | SW 25 - 35 | SW 30 - 40 | --- - | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | SW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 60 - 70 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Saturday Night | SW 25 - 35 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 45 - 55 |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | --- - |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | --- - |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | --- - |
| Saturday Night | --- - |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday - Friday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Friday Night - Saturday Morning | SW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Evening | SW 65 - |
| Saturday Night | SW 30 - 40 |
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: 7:25 AM PST Friday, December 4, 2015
Extended Weather Synopsis for Sunday night through Sunday
Behind the front Sunday, a milder air mass will move into the area and snow levels should actually rise a bit with leftover showers in the forecast.
Beginning Sunday night, the pattern becomes very progressive with a system moving through every 24 hours or so through mid-week. These systems should bring brief heavy bouts of precipitation and strong winds along with rising snow levels. A cool down looks possible for the latter half of the work week.
Extended Weather
Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood Area
Light rain and snow showers, occasionally moderate for the west slopes and Mt. Hood. Moderate snow levels.
Moderate rain and snow becoming light showers Monday morning. Warming trend.
Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Warmer.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning | Snow Level | 5000' - 6000' | 5500' - 6500' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday | Snow Level | 5500' - 7500' | 6000' - 8000' | 7000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 5500' - 7500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 6000' - 8000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night - Monday Morning |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Monday Afternoon - Tuesday |
Snow Level 7000' - 8000' |
* 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 3, 2015
The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.