Issued: 7:10 AM PST Tuesday, December 1, 2020
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Tuesday

A strong early December ridge is moving into the region behind a departed frontal system, bringing our region dry weather under mostly sunny skies on Tuesday. Tuesday morning starts out chilly, with temperatures in the upper teens to upper twenties at most NWAC stations with light winds. Over the course of the day, temperatures moderate much more rapidly west of the Cascade Crest, driving the development of a pressure difference and increasing E flow through the passes. Warmer temperatures should be felt at some upper elevations Tuesday afternoon (Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and Hurricane Ridge), however, lower elevations and the passes should closer to the freezing mark under inversion conditions and the cooling E flow.

The E flow will become moderate to strong overnight, peaking early Wednesday morning before decreasing later Wednesday. This will drive moderate to strong winds at times through the passes and mountain gaps. The strongest winds are likely to be just west of the passes.

More locations should very balmy conditions on Wednesday (freezing levels 10000-11500 ft), but we expect the passes to stay closer to freezing below around 5000 ft.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Baker
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Mt. Hood

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level 3000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3500' 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level * 6000' 4000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 6500' 8500'
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level * 8500' 7500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 8500' 9000'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level * 10500' 8500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 9000' 9000'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level * 11500' 9500' 4000' 5000' 5500' 8500' 9000' 9000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2000'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
Tuesday Afternoon Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(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

Tuesday Tuesday Night Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0
0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 NE 0 - 10 E 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NNE 0 - 10 E 0 - 10 E 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 E 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening ESE 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 ESE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15 E 0 - 10 ESE 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 E 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 ESE 15 - 25 E 15 - 25 ESE 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NNE 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning E 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning E 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night E 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning N 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon NNE 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening ESE 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening E 0 - 10
Tuesday Night E 0 - 10
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NE 0 - 10
Tuesday Afternoon E 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning E 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning E 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon E 10 - 20
Tuesday Evening E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night E 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 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
Tuesday Morning NE 5 - 15 N 5 - 15 NNW 15 - 25 NNW 10 - 20 N 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15 NE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 ENE 5 - 15 ENE 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 SE 15 - 25 ESE 10 - 20 SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSE 20 - 30 SSE 20 - 30 SSE 25 - 35 S 15 - 25 SSE 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning N 5 - 15
Tuesday Afternoon NE 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NNW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon E 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SSE 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning NNW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 5 - 15
Tuesday Evening E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning N 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10
Tuesday Evening SE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 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.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Nov 30, 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.