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
A flattening ridge continues to fend off any serious weather Thursday night and Friday. Mt. Baker should pick up an inch or two of snow from the southern edge of a very moist system aimed at British Columbia. The relatively tight gradient between the ridge over the western US and the frontal system to our north will continue to drive moderate winds in the N Cascades, particularly E of the Cascade crest. Expect mostly clearing skies for many areas besides the West North Cascades and Olympic Mountains.
Friday should start out mostly sunny over much of the Cascade with clouds increasing in the afternoon as the aforementioned frontal system swings SE towards our coastline, allowing very mild, above freezing air to invade much of our forecast region. The North Cascades may be largely spared the warm-up. Moderate SSW alpine winds are expected to become more widespread across the Olympics and Washington Cascades throughout the day in advance of this system. Strong gusts are also possible in the Olympics and Mt. Baker areas.
The frontal system should bring up to 0.75" of water from Friday night through Saturday morning, weakening rapidly as it moves SE. With cooler air in place to the north, Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass stand the best chances of picking up significant snowfall, with 5-8" of snow expected in these locations, but Stevens pass may flirt with rain at times Friday night before post-frontal cooling drops temperatures below pass level. Stevens Pass may also benefit from some convergence setting up late Friday night. Snoqualmie Pass is likely to get mostly rain out of this event. Saturday afternoon should dry out as a strong ridge rapidly moves in, giving partially clearing skies with some lingering low clouds.
Weather Forecast
Hurricane Ridge
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with a chance of an isolated snow shower. Light winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with winds increasing into the moderate range late in the day. Strong gusts are likely near ridgelines. Milder. |
Mt. Baker
| Thursday Night | Periods of light snow. Around 1" of snow possible. Light winds. |
| Friday | Mostly cloudy with a chance of an isolated rain or snow shower. Winds picking up into the moderate range by late morning, with strong gusts likely in the afternoon near ridgelines. |
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with partial clearing in the early morning hours. Mild south of I-90. Moderate winds near ridgelines. |
| Friday | More clouds than sun through mid-day, the clouds increasing in the afternoon. Warming temperatures. Increasing moderate winds with strong gusts near ridgelines. |
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with clouds decreasing toward morning. Light 5000 ft and W pass-level winds. Milder. |
| Friday | More clouds than sun through mid-day, the clouds increasing in the afternoon. 5000 ft winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. Increasingly mild. |
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
| Thursday Night | Mostly cloudy with clouds decreasing toward morning. Light 5000 ft and W pass-level winds. Milder. |
| Friday | More clouds than sun through mid-day, the clouds increasing in the afternoon. 5000 ft winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. Increasingly mild. |
Mt. Hood
| Thursday Night | Mostly clear. Very mild with a freezing level well above treeline. Light 5000 ft winds. |
| Friday | Mostly clear early, then becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. 5000 ft winds becoming light to moderate in the afternoon. |
Issued: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, November 26, 2020
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 | 4500' | 2500' | 2500' | 4500' | 3000' | 3000' | 3500' | 5000' |
| Thursday Night | Snow Level | 5000' | 3000' | 3000' | 4000' | 3000' | 3500' | 4500' | 6000' |
| Friday Morning | Snow Level | 6000' | 3000' | 2500' | 4500' | 3500' | 4500' | 5500' | 8000' |
| Friday Afternoon | Snow Level | 6500' | 3000' | 3500' | 6500' | 5000' | 7000' | 8000' | 9500' |
| Friday Evening | Snow Level | 6000' | 3500' | 3500' | 6500' | 5500' | 5500' | 6500' | 9000' |
| Friday Night | Snow Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 5000' | 4500' | 5000' | 5000' | 7000' |
| Saturday Morning | Snow Level | 3000' | 2500' | 3000' | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon | Freezing Level | 4000' | 3500' | 3500' | 4000' | 4000' | 4000' | 4500' | 6500' |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Washington Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 2500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 3500' |
| Leavenworth | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Stevens Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4000' |
| Mt. Rainier & Crystal | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 3500' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 4500' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 6500' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 4000' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 4500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening |
Snow Level 5000' |
| Thursday Night |
Snow Level 6000' |
| Friday Morning |
Snow Level 8000' |
| Friday Afternoon |
Snow Level 9500' |
| Friday Evening |
Snow Level 9000' |
| Friday Night |
Snow Level 7000' |
| Saturday Morning |
Snow Level 5500' |
| Saturday Afternoon |
Freezing Level 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.
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 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 | 0.50 | 0 |
| Washington Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | 0 |
| Leavenworth | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.50 - 0.75 | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | 0 | 0 | LT 0.10 | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | 0 | 0 | 0.50 | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | 0 | 0 | 0 | LT 0.25 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Mt Baker Ski Area | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Washington Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Leavenworth | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Stevens Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 - 0.75 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mission Ridge | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.10 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Crystal Mt | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | LT 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Paradise | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.50 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| White Pass | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0.25 |
| Thursday | LT 0.10 |
| Mt Hood Meadows | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
| Timberline | Precipitation Forecast |
|---|---|
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | 0 |
| Thursday Night | 0 |
| Thursday | LT 0.25 |
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: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, November 26, 2020
Free Winds at 5000' (mph)
| Hurricane Ridge | Mt. Baker | Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Rainier | Mt. Hood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 | SSW 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | W 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 | SSW 10 - 20 | WSW 5 - 15 | SW 5 - 15 | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 | S 15 - 25 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Hurricane Ridge | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 15 - 25 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | SSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SSW 10 - 20 |
| Friday Afternoon | S 15 - 25 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | W 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | SW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 10 - 20 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 5 - 15 |
| Thursday Night | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 5 - 15 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 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 25 - 35 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 30 - 40 | WNW 25 - 35 | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 50 | W 25 - 35 | W 35 - 50 | W 25 - 35 | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 40 - 55 | W 35 - 50 | W 30 - 40 | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 55 | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 40 - 55 | WSW 35 - 50 | WSW 30 - 40 |
| Mt. Baker | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | SW 40 - 55 |
| Washington Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | W 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 30 - 40 |
| Thursday Night | W 35 - 50 |
| Friday Morning | W 35 - 50 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 40 - 55 |
| Mt. Rainier | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | WNW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | W 25 - 35 |
| Friday Morning | W 30 - 40 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 35 - 50 |
| Mt. Hood | Direction - Speed |
|---|---|
| Thursday Evening | NW 25 - 35 |
| Thursday Night | WNW 20 - 30 |
| Friday Morning | W 20 - 30 |
| Friday Afternoon | WSW 30 - 40 |
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: 2:07 PM PST Thursday, November 26, 2020
Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday
The ridge hangs with us Saturday night and Sunday with some milder alpine temperatures returning and weak inversion conditions possibly setting up. A stronger system approaches Sunday night and arrives from the west with a frontal passage Monday morning accompanied by significant cooling, W winds and possibly moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow.
Extended Snow/Freezing Levels
| Mt. Baker | Snoqualmie Pass | Mt. Hood | Easterly Flow * | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Night | Freezing Level | 3000' - 4000' | 4500' - 5500' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Sunday | Freezing Level | 4000' - 5500' | 4500' - 6000' | 7000' - 8000' | |
| Sunday Night | Snow Level | 3500' - 4500' | 5000' - 6000' | 6500' - 7500' | |
| Monday | Snow Level | 2500' - 3500' | 2500' - 3500' | 3000' - 5000' |
| Mt. Baker | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 3000' - 4000' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4000' - 5500' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 3500' - 4500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Snoqualmie Pass | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 4500' - 5500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 4500' - 6000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 5000' - 6000' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 2500' - 3500' |
| Mt. Hood | Elevation |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night |
Freezing Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Sunday |
Freezing Level 7000' - 8000' |
| Sunday Night |
Snow Level 6500' - 7500' |
| Monday |
Snow Level 3000' - 5000' |
* 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 26, 2020
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.