Issued: 2:11 PM PST Friday, November 27, 2020
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 Monday

Increasing SSW winds on Friday ahead of an approaching frontal system brought mild air into much of the southern/central Cascades and Olympics. The north Cascades should largely avoid these mild temperatures. Snow levels will remain high at first as the frontal precipitation moves from NW to SE overnight. The weakening front should bring a quick shot of rain and snow, 0.25-0.50" for most of the west slopes of the Cascades, with lighter precipitation reaching further east. Temperatures cool rapidly behind the front, changing some rain to snow. Mt. Baker stands to pick up 4-7" of snow out of this system, but may see a brief mix of rain at ski area base in the evening hours. Stevens Pass should see a period of rain before a changeover to snow with 2-4" of snow accumulation expected. Snoqualmie Pass should remain mostly too warm at pass level, where primarily mid and upper elevations will see accumulating snows. Moderate winds will accompany the precipitation Friday night and will be slightly stronger E of the Cascade Crest. By Saturday morning, light rain and snow reaches Mt. Hood, with only a few lingering snow showers further north.

A ridge quickly replaces the fizzled front later Saturday morning so the region should see more sun than clouds by afternoon along with seasonable temperatures. The clear weather should continue Saturday night and early Sunday with light southerly flow aloft. Cooler air lingers E of the Cascade Crest while warmer air returns west of the crest, driving moderate E flow through the passes that might impact you.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Friday Night Generally light rain changing to snow at mid-elevations as temperatures cool rapidly. Precipitation ending after midnight. Moderate winds in the evening, then becoming light.
Mt. Baker
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow. A slight increase in snow level during the evening hours then cooling overnight. Moderate winds gusting strong in the evening, then decreasing.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Friday Night Light snow developing in the north during the evening. Precipitaton spreading southward, with rain and high elevation snow further south. Precipitation tapering by morning. Cooling temperatures after midnight transitions some rain to snow. Moderate to strong winds in the evening, decreasing after midnight.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Friday Night Light to moderate rain snow. Snow starting above pass level, but dropping to Stevens Pass level from late evening onwards. Snoqualmie stays mostly liquid at pass level. Moderate 5000 ft winds developing and peaking overnight. Pass-level winds variable early then light westerly.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Friday Night Mild with light rain and snow developing overnight. Cooling after midnight. Decreasing moderate winds.
Mt. Hood
Friday Night Increasing clouds. Very mild. Moderate winds with strong gusts developing.

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 6000' 3500' 3500' 6000' 5500' 6500' 7000' 9500'
Friday Night Snow Level 4000' 3000' 3000' 5500' 4000' 4500' 5500' 8000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level 3000' 2500' 3000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4500' 5500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 5500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level * 4000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 3000' 3000' 5000' 6500'
Saturday Night Freezing Level * 7000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 5500' 6000' 8000'
Sunday Morning Freezing Level * 7500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 6000' 6500' 7500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
2500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
3500'
Friday Night Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
6000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
6500'
Friday Night Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
7000'
Friday Night Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
7000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening Snow Level
9500'
Friday Night Snow Level
8000'
Saturday Morning Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 WSW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 5 - 15 WSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25 WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15 W 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Elevation
Friday Evening S 15 - 25
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night W 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 20 - 30
Friday Night WSW 5 - 15
Saturday Morning S 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon S 0 - 10
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening S 15 - 25
Friday Night WSW 10 - 20
Saturday Morning WSW 0 - 10
Saturday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night W 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 10 - 20
Saturday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 5 - 15
Saturday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 10 - 20
Friday Night WSW 15 - 25
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
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 SW 40 - 55 WSW 45 - 65 WSW 40 - 55 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 30 - 40
Friday Night WSW 35 - 50 WSW 35 - 50 WSW 40 - 55 WSW 35 - 50 W 35 - 50
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25 W 25 - 35 W 25 - 35 W 20 - 30 W 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Friday Evening SW 40 - 55
Friday Night WSW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning W 15 - 25
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 45 - 65
Friday Night WSW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 40 - 55
Friday Night WSW 40 - 55
Saturday Morning W 25 - 35
Saturday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 35 - 50
Friday Night WSW 35 - 50
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Friday Evening WSW 30 - 40
Friday Night W 35 - 50
Saturday Morning W 20 - 30
Saturday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20

Extended Weather Synopsis for Monday night through Monday

E flow with mild temperatures west of the Cascade crest continues on Sunday night as the ridge yields to a system arriving from the west. A weak warm front is expected to brush NW Washington overnight, followed by a cold front arriving early Monday morning. This front should switch the pass-level winds back westerly, cooling the west slopes behind the front. Most models have the system bringing light to occasionally moderate rain and snow through Monday, but the European Model has the system splitting, with most of the energy and moisture shunted either down to Oregon or north into British Columbia. Monday night should bring clearing to most parts of the Cascades as a strong ridge moves in and is projected to bring the region a sunny and mild day on Tuesday.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Sunday Night Snow Level 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000' 6500' - 7500' *
Monday Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 3500' - 5500'
Monday Night Snow Level 1500' - 3000' 2000' - 3000' 2000' - 3000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Monday Night Snow Level
1500' - 3000'
Tuesday Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Tuesday Freezing Level
2500' - 3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night Snow Level
6500' - 7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Snow Level
3500' - 5500'
Monday Night Snow Level
2000' - 3000'
Tuesday Freezing Level
3000' - 5000'
(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 Nov 27, 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.