Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 26, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

It's winter in the Pacific Northwest and you won't be able to ignore it on Sunday: The coldest air of the season continues to invade the region, moderate to heavy snow graces the Puget Sound lowlands, and snow continues in the mountains at very high snow to water rations.

A cold trough remains over the region today. A weak surface low has moved onshore south of the Olympic mountains on early Sunday morning. The location of this low has allowed Fraser River outflow to efficiently bring cold air into the northern Puget Sound area, which should continue some light to occasionally moderate upslope snowfall in the northern Olympic Foothills. This snow may not reach ridge tops.

At the leading boundary of the invading modified arctic air, moderate to heavy snowfall has set up in a N-S oriented band from Tacoma to just west of Mt. Baker. This feature should shift SE during the day. Because the convergence of low-level air forms this feature, snowfall may be heavier in the Puget sound lowlands than in the mountains. Therefore, we expect less than 6" for most mountain locations in Washington State today. The southern Cascades Volcanoes may pick up slightly higher amounts. Mt. Hood should be the major winner today with up to 12" of snow and moderate ridgeline winds gusting strong.

Temperatures will be in the single digits and teens with below-zero wind chills likely in southern parts of the forecast region. Minimize expose skin if you encounter these sitiuations.

Snowfall shower quickly tapers to flurries this evening from north to south across Washington state. Temperatures will be bitterly cold with single digits and below-zero temperatures the norm at 5000 ft. Record cold temperatures are likely. Light to moderate snowfall continues on Mt. Hood.

Expect dry weather and bitterly cold temperatures on Monday with light winds. Record cold temperatures are likely.

 

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
Sunday Decreasing light upslope snow, heaviest in the Olympic foothills.
Sunday Night Snow flurries in the evening then partially clearing skies.
Sunday Decreasing light snow showers around Mt. Baker Ski area with moderate to heavy snowfall in the western part of the zone also decreasing during the afternoon.
Sunday Night Snow flurries possible in the evening, then decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning.
Sunday Light to moderate snow, heaviest western part and Cascade foothills.
Sunday Night Light snow showers or flurries possible in the evening, then partial clearing.
Sunday Light to moderate snow.
Sunday Night Light snow showers in the evening, tapering to snow flurries overnight.
Sunday Increasing light snow showers. Light W wind switching E from late morning onward at the Pass.
Sunday Night Light snow showers in the early evening decreasing to flurries and ending. Partial clearing overnight. Light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate snow. Light W wind switching E from late morning onward at the Pass.
Sunday Night Light snow showers tapering off during the evening hours. Partial clearing overnight. Light E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Occasional light snow showers or snow flurries.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with mostly clearing skies by morning.
Sunday Decreasing light snow showers.
Sunday Night Snow flurries ending in the evening, then partial clearning.
Sunday Light snow showers.
Sunday Night Light snow showers tapering to flurries in the evening.
Sunday Moderate to heavy snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Night Decreasing light to moderate snow.

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 26, 2021

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25 0
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 26, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon
Olympics 0 0 0 0 0 0
West North 0 0 0 0 0 0
West Central 0 0 0 0 0 0
West South 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Central 0 0 0 0 0 0
East South 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 0 0 0
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 26, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 5 / 0 2 / -5
West North 11 / 4 2 / -7
West Central 11 / 5 5 / -1
West South 10 / 5 5 / -1
Stevens Pass 12 / 6 5 / -2
Snoqualmie Pass 12 / 6 5 / -1
East North 6 / -5 -5 / -10
East Central 11 / 6 1 / -3
East South 13 / 5 4 / -1
Mt. Hood 13 / 9 10 / 2
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 5 / 0
Sunday Night 2 / -5
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 11 / 4
Sunday Night 2 / -7
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 11 / 5
Sunday Night 5 / -1
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 10 / 5
Sunday Night 5 / -1
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 12 / 6
Sunday Night 5 / -2
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 12 / 6
Sunday Night 5 / -1
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 6 / -5
Sunday Night -5 / -10
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 11 / 6
Sunday Night 1 / -3
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 13 / 5
Sunday Night 4 / -1
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 13 / 9
Sunday Night 10 / 2

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 26, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics NE 0-10 ENE 0-10 NE 0-10 NE 5-15
West North ENE 5-15 NE 0-10 ENE 5-15 NE 5-15
West Central SW 0-10 SW 0-10 WSW 0-10 N 0-10
West South SW 0-10 NNW 0-10 WNW 0-10 NNE 0-10
Stevens Pass S 0-10 WNW 0-10 NW 0-10 N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass S 0-10 WNW 0-10 NNW 0-10 S 0-10
East North WSW 0-10 W 0-10 NW 0-10 NNW 0-10
East Central SW 5-15 W 0-10 NW 0-10 W 0-10
East South SW 5-15 WSW 5-15 WNW 5-15 W 0-10
Mt. Hood WSW 20-30 W 15-25 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning NE 0-10
Sunday Afternoon ENE 0-10
Sunday Evening NE 0-10
Sunday Night NE 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning ENE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon NE 0-10
Sunday Evening ENE 5-15
Sunday Night NE 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon SW 0-10
Sunday Evening WSW 0-10
Sunday Night N 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon NNW 0-10
Sunday Evening WNW 0-10
Sunday Night NNE 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning S 0-10
Sunday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night N 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning S 0-10
Sunday Afternoon WNW 0-10
Sunday Evening NNW 0-10
Sunday Night S 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night NNW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon W 0-10
Sunday Evening NW 0-10
Sunday Night W 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Sunday Evening WNW 5-15
Sunday Night W 0-10
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
Sunday Evening WSW 10-20
Sunday Night WSW 10-20

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

Previous forecast from Dec 25, 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’.