Issued: 7:08 AM PST Friday, December 24, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Weather Synopsis

A weak front passed through the area this morning. Light to occasionally moderate post-frontal snow showers will rotate from SW to NE across the area as the parent low pressure center drops south along the coast from Vancouver Island to off of Gray's Harbor by this afternoon. Showers may take a bit of breather mid-day before an upper level feature rotating around the base of the low reinvigorates shower activity later this afternoon especially over the southwest Washington Cascades and Mt Hood. Strong westerly ridgeline winds can be found from the far southern Washington Cascades to Mt hood, with lighter winds for areas further north.

The low pressure system will slide inland tonight, and there is quite a bit of uncertainty for how much snow is produced along the west slopes of the Cascades as it moves inland. Besides the weather system, very cold air bottled up in interior Canada will start to leak out late tonight and tomorrow through the Fraser Valley, creating the opportunity to squeeze out even more low density fluff where ever the two pieces collide.  

On Christmas day, look for another low pressure system to slide down the coast and spread light to occasionally moderate snow showers over most areas once again by Saturday afternoon.  Snow levels will fall to near sea-level even on the west side of the Cascades by Saturday afternoon with the coldest temperatures yet to come. That said, temps will struggle in lower teens across the North Cascades on Christmas day as the arctic intrusion begins in earnest.  

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. A few sunbreaks possible.
Friday Night Light snow showers.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning. Scattered snow showers in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning. Scattered snow showers in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered mid-day. Showers increasing again late in the day. Strong ridgeline winds far southern Cascades.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Friday Night Light snow. Light east winds at Pass level becoming westerly after midnight.
Friday Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the morning becoming scattered mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Friday Night Light snow to occasionally moderate snow. Light east winds at Pass level becoming moderate westerly after midnight.
Friday Cloudy with scattered snow light showers.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers.
Friday Cloudy with scattered snow light showers, occasionally moderate near the Cascade crest.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers.
Friday Light snow showers in the morning becoming scattered mid-day. Showers increasing again late in the day.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers.
Friday Moderate to heavy snow showers in the morning becoming light to occasionally moderate in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light snow to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.

Precipitation (in)

Friday Friday Night Saturday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Paradise 0.50 0.50 0.50
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline 1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.50
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday LT 0.10
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday LT 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.25
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday 0.75 -1.00
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday 1.00
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.50

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Morning* Friday Afternoon* Friday Evening* Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon*
Olympics 1500' 1500' 500' 0 0 500'
West North 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 0
West Central 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
West South 1500' 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Stevens Pass 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1500' 500' 0 0 500'
East North 0 1000' 500' 0 0 0
East Central 0 1000' 500' 0 0 0
East South 500' 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Morning* 1500'
Friday Afternoon* 1500'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
West North Elevation
Friday Morning* 500'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Friday Morning* 500'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
West South Elevation
Friday Morning* 1500'
Friday Afternoon* 1500'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 500'
Saturday Morning 500'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning* 500'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning* 1000'
Friday Afternoon* 1500'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
East North Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
East South Elevation
Friday Morning* 500'
Friday Afternoon* 1000'
Friday Evening* 500'
Friday Night 0'
Saturday Morning 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning* 2000'
Friday Afternoon* 2000'
Friday Evening* 1500'
Friday Night 1000'
Saturday Morning 1000'
Saturday Afternoon* 1000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Friday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 20 / 16 17 / 11
West North 20 / 15 15 / 10
West Central 21 / 17 18 / 15
West South 23 / 18 20 / 16
Stevens Pass 22 / 15 18 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 23 / 17 18 / 16
East North 18 / 12 13 / 8
East Central 21 / 15 17 / 16
East South 23 / 17 18 / 16
Mt. Hood 24 / 20 21 / 18
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 20 / 16
Friday Night 17 / 11
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 20 / 15
Friday Night 15 / 10
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 21 / 17
Friday Night 18 / 15
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 23 / 18
Friday Night 20 / 16
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 22 / 15
Friday Night 18 / 16
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 23 / 17
Friday Night 18 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 18 / 12
Friday Night 13 / 8
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 21 / 15
Friday Night 17 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 23 / 17
Friday Night 18 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 24 / 20
Friday Night 21 / 18

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Morning Friday Afternoon Friday Evening Friday Night
Olympics SSW 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 5-15 W 5-15
West North S 10-20 SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 VAR 5-15
West Central SW 10-20 S 10-20 S 10-20 S 15-25
West South SW 10-20 SSW 5-15 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Stevens Pass SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 S 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass S 10-20 S 5-15 SSW 5-15 WSW 15-25
East North SSW 10-20 SSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
East Central SSW 10-20 S 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20
East South WSW 15-25 SW 10-20 WSW 15-25 WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood WSW 25-35 WSW 15-25 W 25-35 WSW 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SSW 5-15
Friday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Friday Evening VAR 5-15
Friday Night W 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning S 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Friday Evening SSE 5-15
Friday Night VAR 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SW 10-20
Friday Afternoon S 10-20
Friday Evening S 10-20
Friday Night S 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Friday Evening SW 15-25
Friday Night SW 20-30
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SSE 5-15
Friday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Friday Evening S 5-15
Friday Night SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning S 10-20
Friday Afternoon S 5-15
Friday Evening SSW 5-15
Friday Night WSW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Friday Evening SW 5-15
Friday Night SW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning SSW 10-20
Friday Afternoon S 5-15
Friday Evening WSW 5-15
Friday Night SW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning WSW 15-25
Friday Afternoon SW 10-20
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night WSW 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Morning WSW 25-35
Friday Afternoon WSW 15-25
Friday Evening W 25-35
Friday Night WSW 25-35

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Previous forecast from Dec 23, 2021

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.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.