Issued: 2:38 PM PST Sunday, December 2, 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 Sunday night through Thursday

The weather pattern is unusually quiet this week for December. On Sunday afternoon, the Pacific Northwest sits near the western edge of a broad trough with a weak and narrow ridge approximately 500 miles offshore. The cool air mass in place is continuing to spawn isolated snow showers under weakly stable atmosphere conditions. As the low pressure system currently over Idaho moves farther away from the forecast area, atmospheric stability will return, cutting off the snow showers and decreasing cloud cover during the overnight hours on Sunday. Weak low-level offshore flow will also begin to develop.

The broad upper level low pressure will gradually move east on Monday and Monday night and with northerly flow in place, temperatures will remain dry and cool and low level easterly flow will gradually increase.

Monday and Monday night, a low cuts off fully from the northern branch of the jetstream and drops southward toward California, with a high pressure system remaining to the north. This high over low configuration blocks incoming weather to our region and will leave us dry.

Tuesday will remain dry as the high pressure offshore will edge into our region, bringing warmer temperatures west of the Cascade Crest, while cold air will remain east of the Cascade Crest, driving light to moderate easterly flow through the passes.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Sunday Night Mostly clear with light winds.
Mt. Baker
Sunday Night Mostly clear with light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with a chance of an isolated snow flurry early; becoming isolated cloud-cover with light easterly flow developing after midnight.
Mt. Rainier and Crystal
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with a chance of an isolated snow flurry early; becoming isolated cloud-cover with light easterly flow developing after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Sunday Night Chance of an isolated snow flurry early in the south. Becoming mostly clear with light winds. Light easterly flow developing after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Sunday Night Partly cloudy with snow flurries early; isolated cloud-cover after midnight and light easterly flow increasing.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening Snow Level 1500' 1000' 0' 500' 500' 500' 1000' 1000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level * 2000' 2000' 0' 1000' 0' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Monday Morning Freezing Level * 2500' 2500' 1500' 1700' 1500' 2500' 3000' 2500'
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level * 3500' 3500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500'
Monday Evening Freezing Level * 2500' 2500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Monday Night Freezing Level * 2000' 2500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 2500'
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level * 4500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
0'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
1700'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
0'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening Snow Level
1000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Sunday Evening E 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 S 0 - 10
Sunday Night E 0 - 10 ENE 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning ENE 5 - 15 ENE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Sunday Evening E 0 - 10
Sunday Night E 0 - 10
Monday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Evening NE 0 - 10
Sunday Night ENE 0 - 10
Monday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Sunday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening E 0 - 10
Sunday Night E 0 - 10
Monday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NE 0 - 10
Sunday Night ENE 0 - 10
Monday Morning ENE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night VAR 0 - 10
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 0 - 10
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening S 0 - 10
Sunday Night SE 5 - 15
Monday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon ESE 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
Sunday Evening NW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 NW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Sunday Night WNW 0 - 10 NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Monday Morning NNW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NW 5 - 15 NNW 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NW 5 - 15
Sunday Night WNW 0 - 10
Monday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon NE 0 - 10
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NNW 5 - 15
Sunday Night NW 5 - 15
Monday Morning NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon NNW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NNW 5 - 15
Sunday Night NW 5 - 15
Monday Morning NW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon WNW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening NW 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning NNW 5 - 15
Monday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Sunday Evening W 0 - 10
Sunday Night W 0 - 10
Monday Morning VAR 0 - 10
Monday Afternoon S 0 - 10

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

Tuesday night through Thursday we are locked in quiescent pattern with fair weather under a SW-NE tilted high pressure edging into our region with a low pressure spinning to our south over California and the northern branch of the jetstream far to the north.

The weather pattern will continue to increase the pressure difference across the Cascades, increasing the moderate easterly flow during this time period.

Expect sunny days and cold, clear nights with warmer weather west of the Cascade crest and colder inversion conditions with low elevation fog east of the Cascade crest.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Tuesday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 3000' - 4000' 5000' - 6000' *
Wednesday Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 3000' - 4000' 2000' - 4000' *
Wednesday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 3000' - 4000' 2000' - 4000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
4500' - 5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Freezing Level
2000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Freezing Level
5000' - 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.

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 1, 2018

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