Issued: 6:41 AM PST Wednesday, December 9, 2020
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis for Wednesday & Wednesday

Temperatures continue to drop this morning returning many of our mountain weather stations to below-freezing temperatures for the first time in several days.  Look for the cooling trend to pause during the daylight hours causing snowlevels to oscillate a few hundred feet in either direction but generally remain steady. While the bulk of the precipitation has now moved east, lingering low-level moisture will combine with a very weak shortwave disturbance to ring out a few rain and snow showers on the west-slopes of the Cascades. Locations like Mt Baker, the Mountain Loop Highway, and Stevens Pass could pick-up a couple of inches of snow by the afternoon. Trailheads from I90 south and east of the Cascade crest will experience more isolated showers and any accumulations minimal. 

We should see a break in the action overnight into Thursday as a short-lived high-pressure ridge slides over the Pacific Northwest. Expect dry conditions, partial clearing, and even a little sunshine. Winds should turn easterly as the high moves into central Washington. Areas prone to east wind events could see strong winds during the day. Our next weather system should arrive late Thursday night into Friday. 

 

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
Wednesday Morning Snow Level 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level 4000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level * 3500' 2000' 1000' 2000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Thursday Morning Freezing Level * 4000' 2500' 1500' 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
1000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
1500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
3500'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
2500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
Wednesday Evening Freezing Level
4000'
Wednesday Night Freezing Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Morning Freezing Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Thursday Afternoon Freezing Level
4000'
(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

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

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20 WSW 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15 W 5 - 15 W 15 - 25 W 10 - 20 WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10 SSW 0 - 10 W 5 - 15 VAR 0 - 10 VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSE 0 - 10 SE 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 5 - 15 SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SSE 5 - 15 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20 ESE 10 - 20 SE 10 - 20
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSE 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Elevation
Wednesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening SSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSE 0 - 10
Thursday Morning SSE 5 - 15
Thursday Afternoon S 5 - 15
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WSW 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 5 - 15
Wednesday Evening SSW 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SE 5 - 15
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon W 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening W 5 - 15
Wednesday Night ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 15 - 25
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 10 - 20
Wednesday Afternoon W 10 - 20
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Thursday Morning ESE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon ESE 10 - 20
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 15 - 25
Wednesday Evening VAR 0 - 10
Wednesday Night SSE 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SE 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SE 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
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30 WNW 30 - 40 WNW 35 - 45 WNW 35 - 45 NW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 20 - 30 WNW 25 - 35 WNW 30 - 40 WNW 30 - 40 NW 35 - 45
Wednesday Evening NW 15 - 25 NW 15 - 25 NW 25 - 35 NW 30 - 40 NNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 10 - 20 W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20 SW 10 - 20
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning W 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 20 - 30
Wednesday Evening NW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 15 - 25
Thursday Afternoon SSW 15 - 25
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Evening NW 15 - 25
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 30 - 40
Wednesday Evening NW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SSW 10 - 20
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning WNW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon WNW 30 - 40
Wednesday Evening NW 30 - 40
Wednesday Night W 10 - 20
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Wednesday Morning NW 35 - 45
Wednesday Afternoon NW 35 - 45
Wednesday Evening NNW 25 - 35
Wednesday Night W 5 - 15
Thursday Morning SW 10 - 20
Thursday Afternoon SW 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.

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

Previous forecast from Dec 8, 2020

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