Issued: 1:57 PM PST Thursday, November 19, 2020
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

Light but steady showers mainly affecting the west slopes of the Cascades and Mt. Hood will continue through tonight as a very weak frontal system passes inland to our north. A secondary frontal system will pass into the central B.C. Coast on Friday with upper level troughing and westerly flow remaining over the forecast area. However, this system will push further north than today's showers and frontal system, as weak upper level ridging begins to build offshore. This change should allow for a drying trend for the far South Washington Cascades and Mt. Hood to take hold by Friday afternoon. Areas further east of the Cascade crest and south of Hwy 2 are also likely to see more sun than clouds on Friday. 

The upper level ridge will amplify over the area on Saturday and as it does, it should present the best case for widespread sunshine and moderate temperatures across the region than we've seen in a few days. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain and snow showers near the Cascade crest.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers. Moderate west winds at Pass level becoming light overnight.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Cloudy with scattered light rain and snow showers in the evening becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers after midnight.

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' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level 4500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level 4500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 4500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
2000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
2500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
2500'
Friday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3000'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Thursday Night Snow Level
3000'
Friday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Friday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Freezing Level
3500'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(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.

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 5 - 15 W 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 5 - 15 W 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15 SW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 SW 0 - 10 SW 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 5 - 15
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 5 - 15
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon VAR 0 - 10

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 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 10 - 20
Thursday Night SW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 WSW 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 10 - 20
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30 SW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 W 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30
Thursday Night SW 25 - 35
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night WSW 25 - 35
Friday Morning SW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon SW 25 - 35
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 25 - 35
Thursday Night WSW 25 - 35
Friday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Friday Afternoon WSW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 20 - 30
Thursday Night W 20 - 30
Friday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night W 10 - 20
Friday Morning W 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon SW 5 - 15

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

A frontal system will crash into the ridge on Sunday, but this first wave of precipitation looks rather light and unimpressive. A sharper trough and fast moving frontal system should arrive sometime Sunday night through Monday. While this won't be a big snow maker, this system should mark the start of active weather through at least the first half of the work week. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Freezing Level 4000' - 5000' 4000' - 5000' 5500' - 6500' *
Sunday Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 3000' - 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level 2000' - 3000' 2500' - 3500' 2500' - 3500'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Monday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500' - 6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
2500' - 3500'
Monday Snow 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 Nov 18, 2020

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