Issued: 7:15 AM PST Saturday, December 3, 2016
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 & Friday

A front passed through Friday, producing 3 to 8 inches of heavy wet snow along the west slopes of the Cascades above 4000 feet through early this morning. Leftover showers early Saturday morning are generally light and not amounting to significant new snow accumulations.

A strong westerly jet is directed at into central B.C. will drop south and into central Oregon by Sunday afternoon. Along the way, we will transition to a much colder air mass over the weekend.  

Light showers today will become steady precipitation by Saturday afternoon for the Olympics and north Cascades as a developing wave offshore moves inland. Snow levels and moderate to strong westerly winds will remain steady today. The associated frontal boundary will sag south Saturday night, bringing heavier precipitation for the central and south Washington Cascades. Expect strong downslope drying along the east slopes of the Cascades in this pattern with much lighter precipitation totals. 

A rapid cooling trend will begin early Sunday morning and continue through the day with snow levels falling behind the frontal boundary from north to south.  Along with the cooling trend, shower activity should also quickly taper down from north to south Sunday, with a partial clearing trend expected.  

Weather Forecast

Central and south Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Saturday

Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Light to moderate rain and snow becoming moderate to occasionally heavy late Saturday night and Sunday morning. Sharp cooling trend early Sunday morning. Moderate to strong westerly ridgetop winds. 

Olympics, and north Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Mt. Baker
Saturday Morning

Cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. 

Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night

Light to moderate rain and snow. Sharp cooling trend late Saturday night. Moderate to strong westerly ridgetop winds. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday

Cloudy with a chance of very light rain and snow showers. Moderate to occasionally strong westerly winds. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Light rain and snow becoming moderate to occasionally heavy Sunday morning. Sharp cooling trend Sunday morning. Moderate to strong westerly winds. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday

Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers near the crest. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. 

Saturday Night - Sunday Morning

Light rain and snow, except moderate near the Cascade crest, developing north Cascades and spreading south overnight. Sharp cooling trend early Sunday morning. Moderate to strong westerly ridgetop winds. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level 3500' 3000' 2500' ' ' 3500' ' 4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 2000' 1500' 2000' ' ' 2500' ' 4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 500' 500' 500' ' ' 500' ' 1500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
3500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday - Saturday Night Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
500'

* 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 Friday
Hurricane Ridge 0 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 1.00 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0 - 0.50
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 0.50 1.00 - 1.50
0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WSW 15 - 30 --- - W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 35 --- - W 20 - 30
Saturday Night W 15 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 45 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 15 - 25 W 5 - 15 W 20 - 30 --- - WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20 NW 0 - 10 NW 10 - 20 --- - NW 25 - 35
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night W 15 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 45
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Night W 15 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning W 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night S 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WSW 15 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 25 - 45
Sunday Morning W 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night SSW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night --- -
Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon NW 25 - 35
Sunday Night WSW 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 W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 WNW 25 - 35 --- - NW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35 W 30 - 40 W 35 - 50 --- - NW 40 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 35 - 50 W 40 - 50 W 45 - 60 --- - W 45 - 60
Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25 NW 20 - 30 NW 30 - 40 --- - NW 35 - 45
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 35 - 50
Sunday Afternoon NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night SW 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning W 30 - 40
Saturday Afternoon W 30 - 40
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 40 - 50
Sunday Afternoon NW 20 - 30
Sunday Night W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning WNW 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 35 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 45 - 60
Sunday Afternoon NW 30 - 40
Sunday Night WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning --- -
Saturday Afternoon --- -
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning --- -
Sunday Afternoon --- -
Sunday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Morning NW 40 - 50
Saturday Afternoon NW 40 - 50
Saturday Night - Sunday Morning W 45 - 60
Sunday Afternoon NW 35 - 45
Sunday Night W 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.

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

Previous forecast from Nov 29, 2016

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