Issued: 2:15 PM PST Thursday, December 3, 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 Thursday night through Thursday

A persistent high-amplitude ridge continues to shield the Pacific Northwest from storm activity this week. An approaching shortwave trough falls apart as it approaches the coastline on Thursday, running into the ridge and dry low-level offshore flow. However, the weak disturbance is bringing a deck of mid-level clouds a slight chance of a passing shower and a switch to SW and then W flow aloft by Thursday evening. The ridge pops back up later Thursday night, clearing skies and warming temperatures across the region.

Our once potent cold pool should mostly dissipate Thursday night as easterly gradients turn briefly westerly during the overnight hours, turning flow westerly at all levels through the mountain gaps by morning.

Friday should be unseasonably warm once again (particularly west of the Cascade Crest) and sunny with mostly light winds and patchy cold air pooling in the morning, particularly east of the Cascade Crest.

Light E flow should re-develop due to the increasing temperature contrast, which will increase Friday night with high pressure continuing to dominate. The cold pool east of the Cascade Crest will begin to re-form and expect moderate E flow through the mountain gaps. The E flow should peak on Saturday morning before southerly winds begin to increase and mix the atmosphere ahead of a low arriving late Saturday night.

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Thursday Night Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with above-freezing temperatures. Light winds.
Mt. Baker
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with temperatures mostly above freezing. Light winds.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with temperatures mostly above freezing except in deep valleys. Light winds.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with temperatures mostly above freezing except near pass level. Light winds at 5000 ft and light E wind switching W through the passes.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with temperatures mostly above freezing except. Light winds.
Mt. Hood
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then clearing skies after midnight. Mild, with temperatures mostly above freezing except in deep valleys. Light winds.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Thursday Evening Freezing Level * 9000' 8000' 8500' 8500' 8000' 8000' 8500' 9000'
Thursday Night Freezing Level 10000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000' 9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level * 10000' 9000' 10500' 10500' 10500' 10500' 10500' 10500'
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level * 10500' 11000' 10500' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 10500'
Friday Evening Freezing Level * 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11000' 11500'
Friday Night Freezing Level * 11500' 11000' 11500' 11500' 11500' 11500' 11500' 12000'
Saturday Morning Freezing Level * 11500' 11500' 11500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 11500' 12000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
10000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Afternoon Freezing Level
11000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening Freezing Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Night Freezing Level
9000'
Friday Morning Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Afternoon Freezing Level
10500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Evening Freezing Level
11500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Friday Night Freezing Level
12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Morning Freezing Level
12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday 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

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 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
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
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
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Paradise Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
White Pass Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Thursday Night 0
Thursday 0
Timberline Precipitation Forecast
Thursday Night 0
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 SSW 5 - 15 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10 WSW 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10 W 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10 WNW 0 - 10 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning WNW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SW 5 - 15
Thursday Night SW 0 - 10
Friday Morning SW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon SSE 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening SSW 5 - 15
Thursday Night WSW 0 - 10
Friday Morning WNW 0 - 10
Friday Afternoon W 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ESE 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WNW 0 - 10
Thursday Night W 0 - 10
Friday Morning ESE 5 - 15
Friday 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
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 25 WNW 15 - 25 NW 10 - 20 NNW 10 - 20 NNW 10 - 20
Friday Morning WNW 15 - 25 WNW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 NW 10 - 20 N 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 15 - 25
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Friday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening W 10 - 20
Thursday Night WNW 15 - 25
Friday Morning WNW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WSW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WNW 15 - 25
Thursday Night NW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon WNW 0 - 10
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening NW 10 - 20
Thursday Night NNW 10 - 20
Friday Morning NW 10 - 20
Friday Afternoon ESE 0 - 10
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Thursday Evening WNW 10 - 20
Thursday Night NNW 10 - 20
Friday Morning N 5 - 15
Friday Afternoon ENE 0 - 10

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

The next system is likely to weaken and split off from the jet stream, forming a cutoff circulation as it tracks toward Oregon. It is likely to bring some rain and high elevation snow showers to Mt. Hood and the southern Cascades. Other areas are likely to experience decreasing E flow Saturday night into Sunday, along with some clouds, but mild temperatures continue west of the Cascade Crest.

Sunday night and Monday will feature the main jetstream gradually working south and flattening the ridge over the region. A slowly approaching system may bring increasing clouds and some wind to northern Washington as it drops down from the NW on Monday. Temperatures should remain mild, but slightly cooler.

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Saturday Night Snow Level 6500' - 8500' 6000' - 8000' 6000' - 7500'
Sunday Snow Level 5000' - 6000' 5000' - 6000' 5000' - 6000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level 6000' - 8000' 8000' - 9500' 9000' - 11000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
6500' - 8500'
Sunday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
6000' - 8000'
Monday Freezing Level
7500' - 9500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
6000' - 8000'
Sunday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
8000' - 9500'
Monday Freezing Level
10000' - 11000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Night Snow Level
6000' - 7500'
Sunday Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
Sunday Night Freezing Level
9000' - 11000'
Monday Freezing Level
11000' - 12000'

* 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 3, 2020

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