Issued: 7:04 AM PST Monday, December 27, 2021
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Bitterly cold temperatures continue across the region with cold temperature records being set for many locations across the region. The culprit is a cold trough over our area, with decreasing Fraser outflow bringing modified arctic air into the Puget Sound lowlands as well. The coldest temperatures in the region Monday morning can be found at Washington Pass (-17F) and Camp Muir (-14F). Most mountain locations are reporting temperatures in the single digits. 5000 ft temperatures should rise to highs in the upper single digits through mid-teens. Light snow shower activity around Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood should decrease and probably end during the morning hours as the trough continues to exit the region, bringing drying NNW flow. High clouds should increase during the afternoon across the region a weak low drops southward off the coast of British Columbia.

This low could bring some very light snow to the Olympics and southern Washington Cascades with moisture potentially lingering much of the day for the Oregon Cascades. We have considerable uncertainty regarding the exact track of the low. We don't know how far north the very light snow will extend. We expect the only slightly more significant snowfall to occur around Mt. Hood where 3-6" of low-density snow could fall through Tuesday. Elsewhere, expect partially clearing skies Tuesday morning for Washington State with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. Temperatures will remain bitterly cold but should moderate slightly west of the Cascade Crest.

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
Monday Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening with a chance of very light snow, then partial clearing overnight.
Monday Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partial clearing overnight.
Monday Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partial clearing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of very light snow in the early morning hours.
Monday Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase. Light E winds in the morning switching W in the afternoon at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partial clearing overnight. Light E or variable wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly clear to start, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase. Light E winds in the morning switching W in the afternoon at the Pass.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of very light snow in the early morning hours. Light E or variable wind at the Pass.
Monday Mostly clear during the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partial clearing overnight.
Monday Mostly clear during the morning hours, then becoming mostly cloudy as mid and high-level clouds increase.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy in the evening, then partial clearing overnight.
Monday Partly cloudy with a chance of snow showers early in the day, southern part.
Monday Night Mostly cloudy.
Monday Light snow showers decreasing during morning hours. Flurries or high overcast possible in the afternoon.
Monday Night Increasing light snow.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday 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 0 500'
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 0 0 0
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon 0'
Monday Evening 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday Morning* 0'
Tuesday Afternoon* 0'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 9 / -3 10 / 6
West North 9 / 2 8 / 2
West Central 10 / 4 10 / 5
West South 11 / 4 8 / 3
Stevens Pass 9 / -1 5 / -1
Snoqualmie Pass 10 / 6 7 / 2
East North 0 / -17 -2 / -12
East Central 9 / -3 6 / -2
East South 11 / -1 8 / 1
Mt. Hood 13 / 10 12 / 8
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 9 / -3
Monday Night 10 / 6
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 9 / 2
Monday Night 8 / 2
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 10 / 4
Monday Night 10 / 5
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 11 / 4
Monday Night 8 / 3
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 9 / -1
Monday Night 5 / -1
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 10 / 6
Monday Night 7 / 2
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 0 / -17
Monday Night -2 / -12
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 9 / -3
Monday Night 6 / -2
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 11 / -1
Monday Night 8 / 1
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 13 / 10
Monday Night 12 / 8

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics WSW 0-10 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 0-10
West North WSW 0-10 SW 0-10 SW 0-10 WNW 0-10
West Central W 0-10 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15
West South WNW 0-10 W 0-10 W 0-10 NW 5-15
Stevens Pass WSW 0-10 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass NW 0-10 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East North W 0-10 W 10-20 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East Central WNW 0-10 WNW 10-20 WNW 5-15 WNW 5-15
East South W 0-10 W 5-15 WNW 5-15 NW 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 5-15 W 10-20 WSW 10-20 W 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 0-10
Monday Evening SW 0-10
Monday Night WNW 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night NW 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WNW 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 0-10
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night NW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night WNW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning NW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WNW 5-15
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night WNW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night WNW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WNW 0-10
Monday Afternoon WNW 10-20
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night WNW 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WNW 5-15
Monday Night NW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night W 5-15

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

Previous forecast from Dec 26, 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’.