Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
A significant storm continues to impact our region. Snow levels will peak before the cold front sweeps through the Cascades in the early evening. Strong cold-air advection behind the frontal passage will send snow levels plummeting tonight. Along with this cool down, post-frontal showers will quickly pile up new snow along the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood Tuesday night. Moderate westerly winds will create blustery conditions in most areas.
Showers and winds will diminish Wednesday morning but don't expect much of a respite. Light warm frontal moisture from the next frontal system will begin to impact the Olympics and north Cascades by Wednesday afternoon.
Moisture pulses along a quasi-stationary frontal boundary draped over the northern half of the forecast area should bring another round of heavier precipitation Wednesday night and Thursday, with lesser amounts seen further south. Not only will the Baker area and the Olympics see more precipitation in this pattern but strong winds are expected as well. Snow levels should gradually rise for all areas through Thursday with the Pacific Northwest on the warm side of the jet.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Tuesday Night | Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming light rain and snow in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming light rain and snow in the afternoon. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Tuesday Night | Light to moderate rain and snow becoming light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers in the evening. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming light rain and snow late in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate rain and snow showers in the evening. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming light rain and snow in the afternoon. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming light to moderate rain and snow showers in the evening. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming cloudy in the afternoon. |
Mt. Hood
| Tuesday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow becoming moderate rain and snow showers in the evening. Rapid cooling. Windy. |
| Wednesday | Scattered light showers in the morning becoming cloudy in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:27 PM PST Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 4500' | 5500' |
| Tuesday Night | Snow Level | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening | Snow Level | 3500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Wednesday Night | Snow Level | 5000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level * | 5500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 6500' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level * | 6500' | 4500' | 5000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 7000' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Tuesday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Wednesday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Wednesday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' (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
| Tuesday Night | Tuesday | Tuesday Night | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.10 | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | 1.00 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.75 -1.00 |
| White Pass | 1.00 | 0.25 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 1.00 - 1.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | 1.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Tuesday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Night | 1.50 |
| Tuesday | 0.25 |
| Tuesday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Tuesday | LT 0.10 |
LT = less than; WE or Water equivalent is the liquid water equivalent of melted snow in hundredths of inches. As a rough approximation 1 inch of snow = about .10 inches WE, or 10 inches of snow = about 1 inch WE.
Issued: 2:27 PM PST Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | SW 20 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | SW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | W 15 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 15 - 30 | SW 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 15 - 30 | SW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 20 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Morning | WSW 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Tuesday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 20 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 15 - 30 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 15 - 25 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Tuesday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 30 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | SW 35 - 45 |
| Tuesday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 15 - 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.
Free Winds at 9000' (mph)
| Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 40 - 50 | W 45 - 55 | W 50 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 55 | WNW 45 - 55 | WNW 50 - 60 | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 | W 45 - 55 | WNW 40 - 50 | WNW 40 - 50 | NW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 | SW 45 - 55 | WSW 30 - 40 | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 30 - 40 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Tuesday Night | W 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Morning | W 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | SW 45 - 55 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 40 - 50 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 45 - 55 |
| Wednesday Morning | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 45 - 55 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | WNW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday Evening | W 50 - 60 |
| Tuesday Night | WNW 50 - 60 |
| Wednesday Morning | NW 40 - 50 |
| Wednesday Afternoon | W 35 - 45 |
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.
Issued: 2:27 PM PST Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday
The very active pattern will continue through the rest of the week. A rapidly deepening low pressure system develops offshore and curls toward Vancouver Island Thursday night. A strong front should pass through late Thursday night or Friday morning. Winds look very strong ahead of this front Thursday night. Showers and cooling following the front should continue for most of Friday. Flat ridging Friday night will give way to increasing offshore flow as another north-south frontal Pacific frontal system approaches. Depending on the timing, we may squeak out a dry day Saturday ahead of this next system.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 4000' - 5000' | 4500' - 5500' | 5500' - 6500' | * |
| Friday | Snow Level | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 4000' | |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 2500' - 3500' | |
| Saturday | Freezing Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | 4000' - 5000' | * |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' - 5000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' - 5500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5500' - 6500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday |
Snow Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Saturday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' (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 11, 2018
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.