Issued: 7:10 AM PST Saturday, December 10, 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

Another 10-15 inches of generally lower density snow accumulated along the west slopes of the Cascades and Cascades Passes in the 24 hours ending 4 am Saturday morning. 

A strong westerly jet will remained aimed into Oregon over the weekend leaving the PNW on the cold side of the jet. That said, cool marine air will slowly dislodge a colder arctic air mass in place over the east slopes of the Cascades, with a slow warming trend for the Cascade Passes and east slopes today and tonight although snow levels will remain below Pass levels.  

A surface trough rotating out of a weak surface low off of Vancouver Island will increase shower activity this afternoon after a relative break in the action this morning through mid-day.  Light to moderate showers will continue through Sunday before shower activity begins to wane Sunday night. The timing and location of the heaviest shower activity on Sunday is still difficult to pin down at this point but in general the west slopes and Mt. Hood should continue to pick up moderate amounts of new snow over the weekend.  

Weather Forecast

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

Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

Saturday Afternoon

Increasing light to moderate snow showers. Slow warming trend for the Cascade Passes. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Cloudy with light to moderate rain and snow showers. 

Olympics
Saturday Morning

Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

Saturday Mid-day - Saturday Afternoon

Increasing light to moderate snow showers. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. 

East slopes of the Washington Cascades
Saturday Morning

Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

Saturday Afternoon

Increasing light to moderate snow showers late afternoon. Slow warming trend. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Cloudy with light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. 

Mt. Hood Area
Saturday Morning

Cloudy with scattered light snow showers. 

Saturday Afternoon

Increasing light to moderate snow showers. 

Saturday Night - Sunday

Moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow showers. 

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 1500' 500' 0' ' ' 1000' ' 2500'
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level 2500' 1500' 1000' ' ' 2000' ' 3000'
Sunday Snow Level 2000' 1000' 1000' ' ' 2000' ' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
0'
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Snow Level
2000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
1500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
'
Sunday Snow Level
'
Sunday Night Snow Level
'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon - Saturday Night Snow Level
3000'
Sunday Snow Level
2500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000'

* 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 0.50 - 0.75 0 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 - 1.00 0 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 0 - 0.75 0 - 1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0 - 0.75 0 - 1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0 - 0.50 0 - 0.75
Paradise 1.00 - 1.50 0 - 1.50
White Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0 - 1.00
Mt Hood Meadows 0 - 1.00 0 - 1.50
1.00 - 1.50 0 - 2.00

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Dec 4, 2016

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.