Issued: 4:14 PM PST Thursday, December 6, 2018
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

The split flow pattern in place since Monday will continue Thursday night and Friday with a ridge of high pressure pushing from the Pacific Northwest northward into British Columbia while a slow-moving low pressure gradually shifts eastward across southern California. The lack of atmospheric forcing leads to clear skies west of the Cascade Crest with gradual warming aloft; meanwhile, to the east, the light to moderate easterly low-level flow keeps a deep layer of cold air banked against the mountains, producing low elevation clouds and freezing fog in place. 

A weak front will move into the near-shore waters by Friday afternoon but is unlikely to decrease cloud cover significantly on Friday. It will bring an end to the split flow pattern late Friday night along with a band of generally light rain and snow as it passes. The approaching front will bring warmer air to accompany the S-SW flow aloft, producing rain at lower elevation locations west of the Cascade Crest, but most Cascade passes and locations east will remain snow through Saturday as the weak front fizzles and exits leaving a shortwave ridge ahead of a second slightly stronger front offshore.

 

 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Mostly clear, light winds with areas of low clouds or fog in the lower elevations and valleys.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Mostly clear with light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Mostly clear and cold. Areas of low clouds or fog lower elevations and eastern approaches to the passes. Moderate and gusty easterly winds.
Mt. Rainier and Crystal
Thursday Night Mostly clear with light to moderate easterly winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Cold. Areas of low clouds or fog lower elevations and valleys, otherwise, mostly clear mid and upper elevations.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Mostly clear with light winds. Warm aloft with inversion and low clouds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Freezing Level * 5500' 3000' 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 2000' 6000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level * 6000' 3000' 1500' 500' 500' 2000' 2500' 6000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level * 6000' 3500' 1500' 500' 1000' 2500' 3000' 6000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level * 5500' 4500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 4000' 6000'
Friday Evening Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500' 3000' 4500'
Friday Night Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 2500' 3500' 4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level * 4500' 3500' 2000' 3500' 2000' 3000' 3500' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
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.

Precipitation Forecast

Thursday Night Thursday Thursday Night Thursday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0.25 LT 0.10
0 0 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 10 - 20
Thursday Night SE 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 E 10 - 20 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSE 10 - 20 SE 5 - 15 SE 10 - 20 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night SE 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening E 0 - 10
Thursday Night E 0 - 10
Friday Morning SE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening E 10 - 20
Thursday Night E 10 - 20
Friday Morning SE 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening E 5 - 15
Thursday Night ESE 5 - 15
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening E 10 - 20
Thursday Night ESE 5 - 15
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SE 0 - 10
Thursday Night SE 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SSE 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening E 0 - 10
Thursday Night E 0 - 10
Friday Morning SE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSE 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening E 10 - 20
Thursday Night E 10 - 20
Friday Morning SE 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening E 5 - 15
Thursday Night ESE 5 - 15
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening E 10 - 20
Thursday Night ESE 5 - 15
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSE 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
Thursday Evening S 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SSW 5 - 15 WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning WSW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night WSW 5 - 15
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

Saturday night the shortwave ridge will break down as a frontal system approaches and then arrives on Sunday bringing light to moderate precipitation to the region with Mt. Baker and the windward slopes of the Olympic Mountains favored by the S-SW flow. The warmer air in place west of the Cascade Crest will gradually be replaced by a cooler air mass and showery conditions Sunday night with a cool, weakly unstable trough over the region on Monday.

Monday night will feature a break between storm systems as a stronger frontal system arrives on a Northwest flow Tuesday afternoon with initially elevated snow levels lowering rapidly.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 4500' - 5500' 3000' - 4000' 6500' - 7500' *
Sunday Snow Level 4000' - 5000' 3000' - 4000' 4000' - 6000' *
Sunday Night Snow Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
6500' - 7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
4000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'

* 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 2, 2018

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