Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Weather Synopsis for Thursday & Wednesday
Active weather arrived just in time for our first AM mountain weather forecast of the season!
A weak trough remains over the region throughout the short-term forecast. The region is waking up to a relative break following a frontal passage Wednesday night. Precipitation is already increasing once again, starting in the Olympics Thursday early morning, associated with a shortwave feature in WSW flow. The enhanced rain and snow activity should reach the Cascades by late morning, bringing moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow. A brief switch to southerly winds ahead of the feature should be followed by a westerly push late in the day. Snow levels should hold relatively steady today in the 3000-4000 ft range.
Moderate W flow behind Thursday's feature should bring gradual cooling temperatures and moderate orographic rain and snow showers to the region.
Winds should gradually decrease on Friday and with it, the rain and snow showers should diminish as well.
Thursday through Friday, expect 1-2' of snow for Mt. Hood and Paradise, 12-18" at Mt Baker, Stevens Pass, and above 4000 ft for Snoqualmie Pass. Expect significantly less snow for Snoqualmie Pass proper due to marginal snow levels for much of this event.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday | Moderate rain and snow in the morning, then becoming light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday | Increasing light to moderate rain and snow in the morning, becoming moderate rain and snow in the afternoon, then decreasing slightly late in the day. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday | Periods of light snow in the morning, increasing and becoming moderate snow in the afternoon. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday | Increasing light rain and snow in the morning, becoming moderate rain and snow by late morning. Snow levels will be near or slightly above Snoqualmie Pass level; Stevens Pass should stay all snow. Light W wind, potentially switching E for a few hours in the late morning at Pass level. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday | Periods of very light rain and snow showers, becoming moderate rain and snow before noon at Crystal and White Passes, with moderate to heavy rain and snow developing at Paradise. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday | Periods of very light rain and snow showers, becoming moderate rain and snow before noon, then becoming light to moderate showers by mid-afternoon. |
Issued: 7:07 AM PST Thursday, December 12, 2019
Snow/Freezing Level (ft)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Washington Pass | Leavenworth | Stevens Pass | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass | Mt. Hood | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3500' | 3000' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Thursday Evening | Snow Level | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 2000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 2500' | 2500' | 2000' | 2500' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Afternoon |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
* 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 | Thursday Night | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 am - 4 pm | 4 pm - 4 am | 4 am - 4 pm | |
| Hurricane Ridge | 0.50 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | 0.50 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0.50 | 0.25 - 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.25 |
| White Pass | 0.50 | 0.50 - 0.75 | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0.75 | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | 0.75 | 1.00 | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.25 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 1.00 |
| Thursday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.50 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Wednesday | LT 0.25 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 0.50 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 0.75 |
| Thursday Night | 1.00 |
| Wednesday | 0.25 - 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: 7:07 AM PST Thursday, December 12, 2019
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 | SSW 15 - 25 | SW 15 - 25 | SSW 15 - 25 | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 | SSW 10 - 20 | WSW 20 - 30 | WSW 15 - 25 | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 15 - 25 | W 25 - 35 | W 15 - 25 | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | WSW 10 - 20 | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | SSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 15 - 25 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 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 Morning | WSW 25 - 35 | WSW 25 - 35 | W 35 - 45 | WSW 30 - 45 | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | SW 10 - 20 | WSW 40 - 50 | W 40 - 50 | W 60 - 75 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 35 - 45 | W 35 - 45 | W 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 | W 30 - 40 | W 25 - 35 | W 30 - 40 | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | W 20 - 30 | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 | W 10 - 20 | W 20 - 30 | W 15 - 25 | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Thursday Evening | W 20 - 30 |
| Thursday Night | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Afternoon | SW 10 - 20 |
| Thursday Evening | W 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 10 - 20 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 20 - 30 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 30 - 45 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 40 - 50 |
| Thursday Evening | W 35 - 45 |
| Thursday Night | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Morning | WSW 40 - 60 |
| Thursday Afternoon | W 60 - 75 |
| Thursday Evening | W 40 - 55 |
| Thursday Night | W 40 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Afternoon | W 15 - 25 |
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.
Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k
Previous forecast from Dec 11, 2019
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