Issued: 2:09 PM PST Sunday, December 27, 2015
by Dennis D'Amico

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 & Monday

A Pacific frontal system offshore should continue to spread light snow over the Olympics and Cascades today, with precipitation becoming steadier in the afternoon. As the main energy with the associated trough dives into California, the front will slow and weaken in the evening, with a gradual shift to westerly winds in the Cascade Passes early Monday morning. No significant temperature trends are expected with this system. 

Weak NW flow aloft on Monday should maintain ample moisture and cloud cover along the west slopes along with leftover and predominately light snow showers.  Snow showers should taper down Monday night as weak ridging builds offshore.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening

Light to occasionally moderate snow becoming showers in the evening. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday

Cloudy with light snow increasing during the afternoon.  

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening

Light snow developing in the afternoon. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level * 3500' 2500' 1000' ' ' 1500' ' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
2500'

* 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

Monday Monday
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 - 0.75 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25
0 - 0.75 LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday SSW 15 - 25 S 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20 --- - SW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday S 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Night WNW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday SSW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday S 5 - 15
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday SE 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Night WNW 5 - 15

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 Mid-day SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 --- - W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 --- - W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 --- - W 10 - 20
Monday NW 10 - 20 NW 5 - 15 NW 15 - 25 --- - NW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Mid-day SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 5 - 15
Monday NW 10 - 20
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Mid-day SW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 5 - 15
Monday NW 5 - 15
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Mid-day SW 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday NW 15 - 25
Monday Night NW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Mid-day --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Monday --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Mid-day W 25 - 35
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Monday NW 15 - 25
Monday Night NW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

The last low pressure system for awhile is forecast to slide down in NW flow toward Oregon later Tuesday or Tuesday night. Light snow may glance the Olympics and central/south Washington Cascades, largely missing the north Cascades...but this system should predominately affect Mt. Hood. 

Upper level ridging will quickly build around 135 W on Wednesday, leading to a quick drying trend as the flow aloft becomes more northerly. As upper level high pressure takes hold by Thursday, freezing levels will begin to rise west of the crest into the 8000+ range. Strong surface high pressure in the interior West and the resulting offshore flow will keep freezing levels lower along the east slopes, through the Passes and near the crest. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes and Mt. Hood
Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers mainly near and west the crest. Increasing clouds Olympics.  

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy north Cascades.  Cloudy with light snow south Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood. 

Wednesday - Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly clear in the afternoon. 

Thursday

Mostly sunny. Warmer west slopes away from the Cascade Passes. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level 500' - 1500' 500' - 1500' 1000' - 2000' *
Wednesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' 500' - 1500' 1500' - 2500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday - Tuesday Night Snow Level
1000' - 2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
(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.

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 27, 2015

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