Issued: 1:49 PM PST Saturday, December 5, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis for Saturday night through Thursday

Today will mark the bookend of a several day stretch of dry weather. Temperatures have warmed well above freezing this afternoon at almost all sites not in a deep valley or affected by cool easterly flow through the Cascade Passes.

A splitting frontal system offshore will spread clouds and light precipitation first into the Mt Hood area this evening and eventually into the south and central Washington Cascades early Sunday morning. Snow levels will lower with the onset of precipitation, but right now it looks like Snoqualmie Pass will see light rain at Pass level.  The north Cascades shouldn't see any precipitation until the weak surface low passes inland and the trailing upper level trough brings in more widespread shower activity Sunday morning. Precipitation should be on the light side and snow levels will only lower into the 4000-5000' range across the region.  Showers should cut-off in the south with a partial clearing trend likely for Mt Hood and east slopes of the Cascades in the afternoon and perhaps the south Washington Cascades. More clouds will linger in the north.

While this system will be unimpressive it will open the door to a more active pattern this upcoming work week. Warm frontal moisture will brush the Olympics and north Cascades on Monday as snow/freezing levels begin to climb once again. 

Weather Forecast

Hurricane Ridge
Saturday Night Partly cloudy in the evening becoming cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow after midnight.
Mt. Baker
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening becoming mostly cloudy after midnight.
Washington Pass and Leavenworth
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening becoming mostly cloudy late.
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass
Saturday Night Mostly clear in the evening becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Chance of light rain or snow late. Moderate east winds at Pass level becoming light late.
Mt. Rainier, Crystal and White Pass
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light rain or snow developing after midnight.
Mt. Hood
Saturday Night Becoming cloudy in the evening with light rain or snow developing.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening Freezing Level * 6500' 6500' 4000' 4000' 6000' 6500' 6500' 6000'
Saturday Night Freezing Level * 5500' 5500' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4500' 5500' 4500'
Sunday Morning Snow Level 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500' 4500' 4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level 5000' 5000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level * 6500' 5500' 3000' 4000' 7500' 8500' 9000' 10000'
Monday Morning Snow Level * 6500' 5500' 3000' 4000' 7500' 8500' 9000' 10000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Night Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
7500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
8500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
5500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
9000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening Freezing Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Saturday Night Freezing Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Sunday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Sunday Afternoon Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Evening Snow Level
5000'
Sunday Night Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Morning Snow Level
10000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Monday Afternoon Snow Level
10000'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20 S 15 - 25 SE 10 - 20 S 10 - 20 S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15 SSW 5 - 15 SW 10 - 20 SSW 10 - 20 W 15 - 25
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 15 - 25
Sunday Morning SSW 5 - 15
Sunday Afternoon SW 0 - 10
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SE 10 - 20
Saturday Night SE 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening S 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SSW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night S 10 - 20
Sunday Morning W 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WNW 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
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 2 SSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 SW 15 - 25 SW 20 - 30 WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 WSW 20 - 30 WSW 15 - 25 WNW 15 - 25
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 25
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning SW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 10 - 20
Sunday Morning SW 10 - 20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 10 - 20
Saturday Night SW 15 - 25
Sunday Morning WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SW 15 - 2
Saturday Night SW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WSW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Saturday Evening SSW 25 - 35
Saturday Night WSW 20 - 30
Sunday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Sunday Afternoon NW 0 - 10

Extended Weather Synopsis for Thursday night through Thursday

The frontal band should hang up around the Washington/British Columbia border Monday night and start to make its way through the area Tuesday or Tuesday night. There isn't a great deal of clarity on how this will all play out, but we could be looking at a few west side of the Cascades picking up over an inch of water. Snow levels will fall on the back side of the frontal passage into the 2000-3000' with showers. 

Extended Snow/Freezing Levels

Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Hood Easterly Flow *
Monday Night Snow Level 5000' - 6000' 8500' - 9500' 11000' - 12000' *
Tuesday Snow Level 5500' - 6500' 4500' - 5500' 6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level 3000' - 4000' 3500' - 4500' 4000' - 5000'
Mt. Baker Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
5000' - 6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
5500' - 6500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000' - 4000'
Wednesday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
8500' - 9500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
4500' - 5500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3500' - 4500'
Wednesday Snow Level
1500' - 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night Snow Level
11000' - 12000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Snow Level
6000' - 7000'
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4000' - 5000'
Wednesday Snow Level
2000' - 3000'

* 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 5, 2020

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