Issued: 2:05 PM 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 Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

Cold, then colder with periods of light to moderate snow sum up the short term.  A weak surface low (the circulation is easy to see on radar/satellite) off the Washington coast continues to rotate showers from the SW to NE across the area, with the more moderate showers affecting Snoquamlie Pass, the southwest Cascades and the Mt Hood area and lighter snow showers elsewhere. The surface low will track inland tonight, bringing a band of heavier snow north of the low as it traverses the Cascades. Forecast models disagree on the track of this sublte feature (the phrase from between Vancouver WA and to Vancouver BC was used today while trying to nail down the track). The most likely track is into the central Cascades, with a pulse of SW winds overnight for south/central Cascades. 

Yet another surface low will drop down the BC/Washington coast, reinvigorating snow showers across all areas during the day. Very cold arctic air will bein leaking out of the Fraser Valley tonight and pick up steam Saturday and Saturday night, with very cold air moving over the north Cascades. On Sunday, the low will rotate showers in a very similar fashion to today (Friday), this time moving over much colder air and squeezing out plenty of low density snow. Upslope snows are possible across the north slopes of the Olympics in this pattern. Expect highs near zero F in many mountain locations on Sunday in the north Cascades to transition to the mid/upper teens further south towards Mt Hood. 

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 Night Light snow showers.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow. Strong winds developing overnight.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow. Light east winds at Pass level becoming westerly after midnight.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday. 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.
Saturday Periods of light snow becoming light to occasionally moderate midday. Light east winds at Pass level.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers in the evening, then light snow around midnight.
Saturday Scattered snow showers turning to light snow midday.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers in the evening, then light snow around midnight.
Saturday Scattered snow showers turning to light snow midday.
Friday Night Cloudy with scattered snow light showers, then light snow late in the evening.
Saturday Scattered snow showers turning to light snow midday.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers. Strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Scattered snow showers turning to light to occasionally moderate snow in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, December 24, 2021

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, December 24, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, December 24, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 18 / 13 19 / 13
West North 17 / 11 15 / 11
West Central 18 / 15 18 / 13
West South 21 / 18 19 / 14
Stevens Pass 19 / 16 19 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 19 / 16 19 / 15
East North 15 / 8 14 / 7
East Central 19 / 14 17 / 12
East South 19 / 17 19 / 12
Mt. Hood 22 / 19 20 / 16
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 18 / 13
Saturday 19 / 13
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 17 / 11
Saturday 15 / 11
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 18 / 15
Saturday 18 / 13
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 21 / 18
Saturday 19 / 14
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 16
Saturday 19 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 16
Saturday 19 / 15
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 15 / 8
Saturday 14 / 7
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 14
Saturday 17 / 12
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 19 / 17
Saturday 19 / 12
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 22 / 19
Saturday 20 / 16

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, December 24, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, December 24, 2021

Extended Weather Synopsis

Extreme cold (temperatures near or below zero likely for northern areas, possible further south) and dry continental air will work further south and west Sunday afternoon through Tuesday. It doesn't take much to squeeze out light flurries with these temperatures but for most areas, new snowfall accumulations will be very light. Weak low pressure systems may glance the Mt Hood area and south Washingotn Cascades Monday night and Tuesday for slightly higher snow totals. Otherwise we'll stick in this cold pattern until at least the middle of next week.   

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 0
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 0'
Monday 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 0'
Monday 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 0'
Monday 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 24, 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’.