Issued: 2:16 PM PST Friday, December 13, 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 Friday night through Friday

The Pacific Northwest sits north of an active subtropical jet arcing to form a weak ridge to our south and leaving us with remnant moisture from the first major snow event of the season. The location of the ridge is working against the development of instability (aka additional weather) offshore. A weak upper-level disturbance shears as it moves toward northern Oregon Friday evening and it may create some convergence in the central Cascades, but any increase in snow shower activity should be marginal as low-level moisture continues to decrease. Snow levels drop below Snoqualmie pass level Friday night and continue the trend on Saturday as snow shower activity decreases and mostly ends by Saturday evening. Expect the sun to make more of an appearance in the Olympics and E slopes of the Cascades Saturday afternoon.


Weak NW flow develops on Saturday night and continues through Sunday as a ridge develops offshore. This should generally bring fair weather with some clouds pinned against the W slopes of the Cascades, with the potential for snow flurries. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Cloudy with a chance of light snow showers, mainly near the Cascade Crest.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Cloudy with light snow showers (locally intense). Convergence bands may develop. Light W wind through the Passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers (locally intense).
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered light snow showers.

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 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Friday Night Snow Level 2000' 1500' 1000' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 2000' 1500' 500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 2500' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level 2000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 3000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level 2000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Friday Night Snow Level
1000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2000'
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
1500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
2000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Friday Night Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Friday Night Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening W 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 WSW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning W 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night W 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning W 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 0 - 10
Friday Night W 5 - 15
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 0 - 10
Friday Night W 0 - 10
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night W 10 - 20
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15

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 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20
Friday Night WNW 10 - 20 WNW 10 - 20 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 20 - 30 WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20 WNW 5 - 15 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 15 - 25 WNW 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 5 - 15
Friday Night WNW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WNW 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 10 - 20
Friday Night WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 10 - 20
Friday Night WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening W 10 - 20
Friday Night WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Morning WNW 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Friday night through Friday

The ridge amplifies and moves eastward Monday, with the ridge axis sliding across our region Monday night. The ridge diverts moisture northward into British Columbia from a moisture-laden system offshore. The warm air ahead of this system raises freezing levels Monday through Tuesday with E flow developing on Monday and intensifying  Monday night into Tuesday. Tuesday could bring relatively strong winds through the passes. Monday and Tuesday morning are the best chances for widespread sunshine.

At this time it appears that the main storm system for next week will remain offshore until sometime on Wednesday or early Thursday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Freezing Level 500' - 1500' 500' - 1500' 2000' - 3000'
Monday Freezing Level 500' - 2500' 1500' - 3000' 2500' - 4500' *
Monday Night Freezing Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' 4000' - 5000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
Monday Freezing Level
500' - 2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
3000' - 4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
500' - 1500'
Monday Freezing Level
1500' - 3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Freezing Level
2000' - 3000'
Monday Freezing Level
2500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Freezing Level
3500' - 4500'
(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 13, 2019

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