Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k I Extended Weather
Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
A warm front draped off the coast of Washington and British Columbia will continue moisture and warm air into the region as it over-runs colder air Friday night. With temperatures already hovering around freezing at Snoqualmie Pass on Wednesday afternoon, snow totals will be limited, but 2-4" are possible before a transition to all rain. Stevens Pass might pick up a few more inches as it transitions to rain closer to 10 PM.
The warm front will weaken and move eastward, but the Pacific Northwest will remain in the warm sector of the storm with lighter precipitation Saturday morning before a cold frontal rainband arrives from the NW during the afternoon hours and progresses SE through the evening hours bringing moderate to heavy rain. Winds will increase through the day on Saturday, peaking with the frontal passage in the early evening hours in the moderate to strong range.
Decreasing light snow showers will continue later Saturday night and Sunday on a moist N-NW flow with rapidly lowering snow levels. Snoqualmie Pass should expect a transition back to snow around 10 PM as winds shift N-NW.
Overall, the storm will bring will bring significant water to the mountains with 1-4" of snow water equivalent across the west slopes of the Cascades, much of which will fall in liquid form.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and snow early becoming light. Increasing moderate winds. Snow changing to rain in the evening. |
| Saturday | Increasing light to moderate rain. Moderate to strong winds. |
Mt. Baker
| Friday Night | Moderate rain and snow. Light winds becoming moderate. Strong warming. |
| Saturday | Light rain in the morning. becoming moderate to heavy in the afternoon. Moderate to strong winds. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Friday Night | Light to moderate snow. Strong warming. A potential changeover to rain at Washington Pass by early morning. Light winds. |
| Saturday | Light rain and high elevation snow becoming moderate to occasionally heavy. Moderate winds becoming moderate to strong. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Friday Night | Moderate to heavy rain and snow early, becoming all rain. Moderate wind increasing. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light rain early then becoming heavy late in the day. Moderate to strong winds. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Friday Night | Decreasing moderate to heavy snow changing to rain at Paradise; decreasing light snow changing to rain at Crystal; decreasing light to moderate snow changing to rain at White Pass. Increasing moderate winds. Strong warming. |
| Saturday | Decreasing light to moderate rain for Paradise and White Pass. Periods of light rain at Crystal. Late in the day precipitation will becoming moderate to heavy at Paradise and White Pass. Moderate to strong winds. |
Mt. Hood
| Friday Night | Light snow becoming heavier and changing to rain at lower to mid elevations by morning as strong warming occurs. Increasing moderate winds gusting strong. |
| Saturday | Moderate rain. Moderate to strong winds. |
Issued: 2:41 PM PST Friday, December 28, 2018
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | Snow Level * | 7000' | 2500' | 2000' | 2000' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 7500' | 4500' | 3500' | 4000' | 5000' | 6000' | 6000' | 5500' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 6500' | 6000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 6500' | 6500' | 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Snow Level | 6000' | 5000' | 5500' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' | 6000' |
| Saturday Evening | Snow Level | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 5500' | 5000' | 5000' | 5500' | 5500' |
| Saturday Night | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' | 2500' |
| Sunday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2200' | 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon | Snow Level | 2500' | 1500' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2000' | 2500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 7000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 1500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 2000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2200' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' (Easterly Flow *) |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Saturday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Sunday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
* 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 Night | Friday | Friday Night | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.25 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1.50 | 0.75 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | LT 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | 1.50 | 0.75 -1.00 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.00 - 1.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0.75 -1.00 | 0.75 -1.00 | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 |
| Friday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Friday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 |
| Friday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Friday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Friday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 |
| Friday | 0.75 |
| Friday Night | 1.00 - 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Friday Night | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday | 0.75 -1.00 |
| Friday Night | 1.50 |
| Friday | 0.50 |
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: 2:41 PM PST Friday, December 28, 2018
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 | S 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 | SSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 45 | SW 30 - 45 | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 | SSW 30 - 45 | --- 40 - 60 | SW 35 - 50 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | S 10 - 20 |
| Friday Night | SSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | SW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SSW 30 - 45 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Afternoon | --- 40 - 60 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Night | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Night | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 60 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 30 - 45 | W 35 - 50 | W 45 - 65 | WNW 40 - 60 | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 50 - 70 | W 50 - 70 | W 45 - 65 | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 | WSW 55 - 75 | W 55 - 75 | W 60 - 80 | W 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 55 - 75 | SW 60 - 80 | WSW 65 - 85 | WSW 65 - 85 | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 30 - 45 |
| Friday Night | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 55 - 75 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 35 - 50 |
| Friday Night | WSW 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Morning | WSW 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | SW 60 - 80 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | W 45 - 65 |
| Friday Night | W 50 - 70 |
| Saturday Morning | W 55 - 75 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 65 - 85 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night | W 45 - 65 |
| Saturday Morning | W 60 - 80 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 65 - 85 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Friday Evening | WNW 40 - 60 |
| Friday Night | WNW 35 - 50 |
| Saturday Morning | W 40 - 60 |
| Saturday Afternoon | WSW 55 - 75 |
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: 2:41 PM PST Friday, December 28, 2018
Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday
Coool northerly flow will cut off snow shower activity and create some clearing skies as another ridge builds offshore Sunday night
The ridge begins building further eastward into our region on Monday with sunny weather expected.
Monday night and Tuesday, a warm front will be north of the area over British Columbia and may bring cloud cover to the Cascades. Warm air begins moving in from the south and west during the day on Tuesday.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 0' - 1000' | 500' - 1500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Monday | Freezing Level | 1000' - 2000' | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 3000' | |
| Monday Night | Freezing Level | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | 1500' - 2500' | |
| Tuesday | Freezing Level | 1500' - 2500' | 2000' - 4000' | 4500' - 6500' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 0' - 1000' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 500' - 1500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 4000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Monday |
Freezing Level 2000' - 3000' |
| Monday Night |
Freezing Level 1500' - 2500' |
| Tuesday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6500' |
* 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 28, 2018
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