Issued: 2:06 PM 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 I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

It's a rare early December completely dry 5-day forecast, so enjoy the sunshine while a high pressure dominates our weather pattern and fends off the storm track.

By Tuesday evening, with the ridge axis overhead, mild air has arrived aloft for many areas west of the Cascade Crest, while the east slopes of the Cascades remain in a deep cold air pool. At 5000 ft, evening temperatures should be around 20 F degrees cooler east of the Cascade Crest, and by Wednesday morning, that contrast increases to about 30 F. That colder, denser air E of the Cascade Crest forces its way through the mountain gaps, creating moderate to strong flow through the gaps, which should peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Expect cold wind-chills for Snoqualmie, Stevens, White, and Washington passes and anywhere exposed to the E flow. A single freezing level doesn't describe this scenario easily. By mid-day Wednesday, the inversion should be a bit shallower with the warmer air to the west reaching most areas above 4000 ft. With a secondary freezing level above 10000 ft, expect spring-like weather for upper elevations where temperatures will range from the mid-30's to near 50 degrees! Given the stongly contrasting temperatures, you'll want to layer your clothing accordingly.

The weather pattern doesn't change much as the high pressure ridge axis shifts to our east Wednesday night and Thursday morning. However, late in the day on Thursday, a shortwave disturbance fizzles as it approaches our coastline, bringing some high clouds to the region and likely mid-level or lower clouds to the Olympic Mountains.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions. Mild above 4000 ft with cool temperatures below. Increasing light to occasionally moderate winds.
Mt. Baker
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions: Mild above 4000 ft with cool temperatures below. Increasing light to occasionally moderate winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions. Cold below 5500 ft, mild above. Increasing light to moderate winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions. Cold below 5000 ft, warm above. Increasing winds becoming moderate at 5000 ft and moderate to strong E flow at pass level.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions. Cold below 5000 ft, warm above. Increasing winds becoming light to moderate.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Night Clear. Inversion conditions. Cold below 5500 ft, warm above. Increasing winds becoming moderate to strong.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level * 10500' 2500' 1000' 10000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 3500'
Tuesday Night Freezing Level * 12000' 4500' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 3500' 3500'
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level * 12000' 10000' 1000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 10500' 11000'
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level * 12000' 11500' 4000' 4000' 10000' 10500' 10500' 11000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level * 11000' 10500' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3500' 2500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level * 10000' 9500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000' 4000' 2000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level * 9500' 9500' 10000' 10500' 10500' 10500' 11000' 11000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(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 Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 0 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0 0 0
Washington Pass 0 0 0 0
Leavenworth 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 0
Crystal Mt 0 0 0 0
Paradise 0 0 0 0
White Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Leavenworth Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Tuesday Night 0
Tuesday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Tuesday Night 0
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 Evening E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 ESE 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 E 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning SSE 10 - 20 E 5 - 15 ESE 15 - 25 E 10 - 20 ESE 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning ESE 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning E 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night E 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon S 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning E 5 - 15
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
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 Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night E 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning E 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 15 - 25
Tuesday Night E 25 - 35
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25

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 Evening E 5 - 15 E 5 - 15 E 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20 E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SSE 10 - 20 SE 5 - 15 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25 SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30 S 15 - 25 S 25 - 35 S 25 - 35 SSE 20 - 30
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 5 - 15
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning S 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon S 25 - 35
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening ESE 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning S 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Evening E 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 15 - 25
Wednesday Morning SSE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 15 - 25

Extended Weather Synopsis for Tuesday night through Tuesday

The high pressure ridge strengthens rapidly again behind Thursday's fizzled shortwave, leading to full sunshine and more inversion conditions Friday through Saturday, along with renewed E flow. A stronger system approaches the coast Saturday night, but recent model runs have it falling apart by the time it makes landfall on Sunday. Expect a chance of some light rain and high elevation snow.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Thursday Night Freezing Level 9500' - 10500' 10000' - 11000' 10500' - 11500' *
Friday Freezing Level 8000' - 9000' 9500' - 10500' 11000' - 12000' *
Friday Night Freezing Level 10000' - 11000' 10500' - 11500' 11000' - 12000' *
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9500' - 10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
8000' - 9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
10000' - 11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
9500' - 10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
10000' - 11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
9500' - 10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
10500' - 11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
10000' - 11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night Freezing Level
10500' - 11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Freezing Level
11000' - 12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11000' - 12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Freezing Level
11000' - 12000'
(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 1, 2020

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