Issued: 1:35 PM PST Sunday, December 4, 2016
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 & Friday

A frontal system sagging south through the Washington Cascades Saturday night delivered some nice snow totals for the Olympics, the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. Through 4 am Sunday morning, new snow totals generally ranged from 8 - 20 inches for the aforementioned areas. The post-frontal convergence zone continues to become more northwest oriented and should continue to weaken through the afternoon hours. As showers decrease, sunbreaks should become more common this afternoon.   

A strong 125 kt jet that was directed into Washington State this morning will drop south and into central Oregon by Sunday afternoon. The PNW will be on the backside of a cold upper trough; the coldest air mass by far this season will be over the region beginning Sunday evening. A weak front should swing down the backside of the trough on Monday. Generally light accumulations of snow are possible Monday with showers becoming more scattered in the afternoon and evening. While shower activity will generally be dying down Monday night, there may be some light to moderate upslope snowfall along the north slopes of the Olympics with a bit of Fraser outflow developing late Monday afternoon. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Sunday

Partly sunny with isolated light snow showers. Colder.  

Sunday Night - Monday Morning

Becoming cloudy with light snow increasing after midnight. 

Monday Morning - Monday Mid-day

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

Washington Cascades near and west of the crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie, and White Passes
Sunday Mid-day

Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers north Cascades. Cloudy with light snow showers central and south Washington Cascades. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. 

Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night

Becoming partly cloudy Sunday afternoon from north to south with isolated light snow showers. Colder. 

Monday Morning

Cloudy with light snow showers. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy near the crest, partly sunny further east. Turning colder. 

Monday Morning

Cloudy with light snow showers developing. 

Mt. Hood Area
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers. Moderate alpine westerly winds. Colder. 

Monday Morning

Cloudy with light snow showers. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 1000' 500' 500' ' ' 1000' ' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night - Monday Night Snow Level
1000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20 WNW 0 - 10 NW 10 - 20 --- - NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15 S 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15 --- - W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15
Monday - Monday Night N 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning S 0 - 10
Monday - Monday Night ENE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15
Monday - Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday - Monday Night W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15
Monday - Monday Night N 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Sunday Night - Monday Morning S 0 - 10
Monday - Monday Night ENE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15
Monday - Monday Night VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday - Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday - Monday Night W 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 Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 NW 35 - 45 --- - NW 30 - 40
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 --- - W 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon E 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 --- - W 15 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 15 - 25
Sunday Night - Monday Morning SW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Monday Night NE 5 - 15
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 10 - 20
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 10 - 20
Monday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Monday Night NE 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 35 - 45
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 15 - 25
Monday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Monday Night NE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening --- -
Sunday Night - Monday Morning --- -
Monday Afternoon --- -
Monday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Afternoon - Sunday Evening NW 30 - 40
Sunday Night - Monday Morning W 20 - 30
Monday Afternoon W 15 - 30
Monday Night NW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

Tuesday should be fair weather day with cold temperatures settled into the region.  An upper level ridge offshore will move over the west coast on Wednesday providing one more break day between weather systems.  Strong high pressure in the Yukon and northern B.C. will slide south along the Rockies during this time, setting the stage for moderate offshore flow to develop Wednesday and Thursday.  A strong frontal system looks to impact the area beginning Wednesday night and especially Thursday. With cold air firmly entrenched along the east slopes, warming should be limited to the Olympics and perhaps Mt. Hood on Thursday. 

Extended Weather

Olympics, Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood
Tuesday - Tuesday Night

Partly to mostly clear and cold. 

Wednesday

Mostly sunny except increasing clouds Olympics Wednesday afternoon. Moderate to strong offshore flow developing. 

Wednesday Night

Light to moderate snow developing overnight. Moderate to strong offshore flow. 

Thursday

Stormy. Some warming Olympics and Mt. Hood. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level 0' - 500' 0' - 500' 0' - 500' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday - Wednesday Night Freezing Level
0' - 500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(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 4, 2016

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