Issued: 2:21 PM PST Thursday, December 12, 2019
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 Thursday night through Monday

The Pacific Northwest is in the midst of a significant snow producing storm-cycle. A shortwave feature with an active frontal boundary should be passing over and east of the Washington Cascades by Thursday evening. This frontal zone has featured thundersnow and heavy (up to 4" per hour) snowfall rates in the Mt Hood area with heavy snowfall also in the Hurricane Ridge and Mt. Rainier areas as of Thursday afternoon. SW winds ahead of the front shift westerly by evening and should be moderate to strong. Look for sustained moderate to locally heavy snowfall, particularly from the central Washington Cascades southward. Convergence is likely to develop overnight and the Stevens Pass area looks to be favored. Expect significant accumulations and locally intense snow with a spread in potential snowfall amounts. Temperatures should start cooling slightly.

On Friday, light to moderate mountain-induced rain and snow showers will continue as winds gradually decrease, but temperatures will gradually cool. This activity will further decrease Friday night with further cooling. High-resolution weather models maintain convergence in the central Cascades through Friday night.

On Saturday, very light snow showers will bring up to an inch or two of snow to localized locations, but most of the snow should be finished. East of the Cascade Crest, sunshine should be more plentiful.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Light rain and snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow, heaviest in the evening.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Light to moderate rain and snow near the Cascade crest, heaviest in the evening and decreasing eastward.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Moderate to heavy rain and snow, heaviest in the evening. Marginally snow for Snoqualmie Pass and all snow for Stevens. Moderate W wind through the Passes. Some convergence developing by morning.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Moderate rain and snow, heaviest at Paradise and lightest at Crystal.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Moderate rain and snow. Strong 5000 ft winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Snow Level 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Friday Morning Snow Level 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level 2500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Friday Night Snow Level 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 1500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500' 2000' 1000' 2000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday 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

Thursday Night Monday Monday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Leavenworth LT 0.10 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0.75 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 1.00 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
1.00 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Monday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 1.00
Monday 0.25
Monday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 15 - 25 W 35 - 45
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 W 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 30 - 40
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening W 35 - 45
Thursday Night WSW 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WSW 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WSW 15 - 25
Friday Morning W 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 35 - 45
Thursday Night WSW 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
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 Evening W 20 - 30 W 25 - 35 W 35 - 45 W 35 - 45 W 40 - 55
Thursday Night W 20 - 30 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 W 30 - 40 WNW 40 - 50
Friday Morning W 15 - 25 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning W 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night W 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 25 - 35
Friday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 35 - 45
Thursday Night W 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon W 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 35 - 45
Thursday Night W 30 - 40
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 40 - 55
Thursday Night WNW 40 - 50
Friday Morning W 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon W 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

Saturday night, NW flow brings cold temperatures and snow flurries.

A weak shortwave feature may clip the area, bringing very light rain and snow on Sunday.

A ridge developing offshore pushes into our coastal waters, reducing the likelihood of precipitation Sunday night into Monday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 500' - 1500' 500' - 1500' 2000' - 3000'
Sunday Snow Level 0' - 1000' 500' - 1500' 1500' - 2500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level 1000' - 2000' 1500' - 2500' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Sunday Snow Level
0' - 1000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
Monday Freezing Level
1000' - 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Sunday Snow Level
500' - 1500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
Monday Freezing Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'

* 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 12, 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.