Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

Showers continue to bring more snow to our mountains this afternoon. So far (as of ~1pm), weather station readings show 8-24in of new snow for nearly all locations. As we head into the evening, the low-pressure system responsible for all this precipitation slowly starts to slide south. This will cause winds to significantly decrease and showers to taper. A few locations may see another inch or two of snow overnight before the bulk of the remaining moisture is pulled southward by the low. 

Most trailheads should start Sunday fairly socked in with clouds. There could even be a few leftover showers bringing very light snow to some locations. However, the mountains will start to dry out by mid-morning. Forecasting cloud cover following a storm always proves difficult. You may see some significant breaks in the clouds in the North Cascades and areas east crest. For other areas, a few brief moments of sunshine should be the norm. While we don't expect skies to fully clear, most sites will see at least a light blue. 

An amplified high-pressure ridge in the Pacific starts to drift over the region Sunday evening. This will turn the winds more northerly and usher in colder and drier air. Any lingering moisture should be forced into the valleys and leave us with just a few low-level clouds or valley fog. This will mark the beginning of a prolonged dry spell. Sunny skies and cool temperatures could make Monday a pleasant day to play in the mountains. 

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
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with isolated snow showers.
Sunday Mostly cloudy in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. Winds becoming N.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers. S winds becoming calm
Sunday Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible in the morning. Becoming mostly to partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with isolated showers possible in the morning. A few breaks in the clouds possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Winds decreasing significantly.
Sunday Cloudy with isolated showers possible in the morning A few sun breaks possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a few isolated showers. Light E flow at pass level diminishing.
Sunday Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible in the morning. Brief sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Calm winds at pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Light E flow at pass level diminishing.
Sunday Cloudy with a few isolated showers in the morning. A few breaks in the clouds possible in the afternoon. Calm winds at pass level.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers possible.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning with at least some clearing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers possible.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning with a few isolated showers. Sun breaks in the afternoon, particularly east of the crest.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning with a few isolated showers. Sun breaks in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered showers. Light to moderate S winds decreasing significantly.
Sunday Cloudy in the morning with snow showers. A few brief sun breaks possible in the afternoon.

Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 3000' 3000' 2500' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500'
West North 2000' 1000' 1000' 3000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000'
West Central 2000' 1000' 1000' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
West South 2500' 2000' 1500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 500' 1000' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500'
East North 500' 0 0 1500' 500' 500' 500' 1500'
East Central 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 1500' 500' 500' 2000'
East South 2500' 2000' 1500' 3000' 2500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 500'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2500'
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday Morning 1500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning 3000'
Sunday Afternoon 3500'
Sunday Evening 3000'
Sunday Night 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'

Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 28 33 / 26
West North 31 / 26 34 / 28
West Central 32 / 28 31 / 29
West South 30 / 26 28 / 21
Stevens Pass 25 / 21 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 24 31 / 26
East North 19 / 14 26 / 17
East Central 29 / 21 31 / 26
East South 29 / 26 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 30 / 25 29 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 28
Sunday 33 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 26
Sunday 34 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 28
Sunday 31 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 26
Sunday 28 / 21
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 21
Sunday 31 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 24
Sunday 31 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 19 / 14
Sunday 26 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 21
Sunday 31 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 28 / 25
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 25
Sunday 29 / 23

Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 0-10 N 5-15
West North S 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 0-10
West Central S 0-10 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 0-10
West South S 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SE 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10 NW 5-15
East North S 5-15 S 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 5-15
East Central S 5-15 S 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 5-15
East South S 5-15 S 0-10 VAR 0-10 N 5-15
Mt. Hood S 10-20 S 5-15 VAR 0-10 N 5-15
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning N 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 0-10
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night VAR 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon NW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 5-15
Saturday Night S 0-10
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night S 5-15
Sunday Morning VAR 0-10
Sunday Afternoon N 5-15

Issued: 1:53 PM PST Saturday, December 10, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

A strong high-pressure ridge continues to nudge into the region early next week and keeps us generally dry and cold. Warmer air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere will set up temperature inversions in many locations by Tuesday. As a result, you may see some low clouds and valley fog in the mornings. Weak diurnal swings should make afternoons a bit warmer and sunnier before long dark mid-winter nights once again cause temperatures to plummet. This pattern should at least persist through much of the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 0 1500' 0 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 2000' 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 1000' 2000' 500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 1500'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday * 2000'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday * 2000'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday * 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 10, 2022

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’.