Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 5, 2019
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 Thursday night through Thursday

A stacked low pressure system spinning well off the Oregon coast will lift warm frontal moisture into southern British Columbia later tonight and through the day on Friday. The main effect on our region on Friday will be a steady supply of high clouds, but the Olympics and Mt. Baker region may see periods of very light rain. 

The main frontal band will push inland from the coast Friday night but weaken as it pushes through the Cascades Saturday morning.  Precipitation will be on the lighter side with this system and overall snow levels will be slow to cool. 

Shower activity will continue on Saturday, favoring the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood. The merging of the old frontal boundary and a new shortwave approaching the area from the NW continues to be handled poorly by the forecast models, but it's unlikely we'll see a significant precipitation event as snow levels stick in the 4000-6000 ft range.  

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Partly to mostly cloudy.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy. Light east winds at Pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Partly to mostly cloudy.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Partly to mostly cloudy.

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 * 6500' 6000' 5500' 5500' 6000' 6500' 6500' 7500'
Thursday Night Freezing Level * 7000' 6000' 5500' 6000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 8500'
Friday Morning Freezing Level * 7000' 6500' 5000' 6000' 6000' 7000' 7500' 8000'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level * 6500' 7000' 5000' 5500' 6000' 7000' 7000' 7500'
Friday Evening Snow Level * 5000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 6000' 6500'
Friday Night Snow Level * 5500' 5500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 5500' 6000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 5000' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5500' 6000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Leavenworth 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
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Stevens Pass 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
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Morning Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Snow Level
6000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'

* 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth 0 0 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
White Pass 0 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
0 0 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington 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 LT 0.10
Thursday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Thursday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Thursday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 S 5 - 15 S 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15 SW 0 - 10 SE 0 - 10 S 5 - 15 S 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 SE 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 SW 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SE 0 - 10
Friday Morning SE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening S 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening S 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SE 0 - 10
Friday Morning SE 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SE 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 5 - 15
Thursday Night S 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 10 - 20
Thursday Night S 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon S 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 SW 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 S 15 - 25 SW 25 - 35
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 SW 25 - 35 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 20 - 30
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 15 - 25
Thursday Night S 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening S 15 - 25
Thursday Night SW 20 - 30
Friday Morning SW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 25 - 35
Thursday Night SW 25 - 35
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

Showers should wane Saturday night and early Sunday as strong upper level ridging builds offshore. NW flow aloft and onshore flow at the surface will continue to keep clouds banked up along the west slopes of the Cascades with clearing conditions further east of the crest. 

The ridge will move over the area on Monday with freezing levels on the rise. The next frontal system will weaken as it runs into the ridge on Tuesday, but will likely cause an increase in cloud cover. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 5000' - 6000'
Sunday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level 2500' - 3500' 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Freezing Level
6500' - 7500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Sunday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
Monday Freezing Level
7000' - 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Sunday Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Freezing Level
8500' - 9500'

* 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, 2019

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.