Issued: 6:59 AM PST Saturday, December 24, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

The warm wet weather pattern continues today as another wave of precipitation pushes into the region. Expect stormy conditions all across the mountains with periods of heavy precipitation and strong winds. For locations in the Olympics, west of the Cascade Crest, and near Mt Hood, this will be a primarily rain event, with snow only at the highest elevations. For everywhere else, the storm becomes much more complicated. 

Considerably warmer air continues to make its way into the mountains and tries to displace the very cold air pool still holding strong east of the Cascade crest. At Stevens and Snoqualmie, moderate to strong E winds will draw this below-freezing air into the passes and create very strong temperature inversions all along the highway corridors. This is the perfect setup for a dangerous freezing rain event with significant ice accumulations. Along the east side of the Cascades, warm air has already made its way into the mid-elevations from Ahtanum Meadows to the Wenatchee Mts. With cold air trapped below, this should also result in freezing rain. As warmer temperatures continue to force their way further north, similar conditions could develop in other areas. The cold air should hold on in the Methow region for most of Saturday maintaining mostly snow. 

A shift to westerly flow through the mountain passes Saturday evening will finally flush out any remaining pockets of cold air east of the Cascades and bring rain to all but the highest peaks. Post-frontal showers linger overnight as a transient ridge passes quickly overhead. This should allow for a bit of drying and maybe a few breaks in the clouds on Christmas morning. 

Any pause in the action will be short-lived. A warm front will lift northward Sunday and bring yet another round of rain to our region. Right now this doesn't look like a particularly impressive feature. During the afternoon it should bring light rain and high-elevation snow primarily to the volcanoes and north Cascades. 

 

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 Stormy. Rain and high-elevation snow heavy at times. Strong SW winds decreasing slightly in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Light to moderate SW winds.
Saturday Stormy. Rain and high elevation snow, heavy at times. Strong S winds becoming SW.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers. Moderate W winds decreasing and becoming SW.
Saturday Stormy. Rain and high elevation snow, heavy at times. Moderate SW winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers. Moderate to strong SW winds decreasing.
Saturday Stormy. Rain and very high elevation snow, heavy at times. Moderate to strong SW winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered showers, heaviest near the volcanoes. Moderate to strong SW winds decreasing overnight.
Saturday Stormy with significant freezing rain. Moderate E flow at Pass level. Rain and moderate SW winds at ridgelines.
Saturday Night Turning to all rain at the Pass. Westerly flow. Cloudy with scattered showers.
Saturday Stormy with significant freezing rain. Moderate to strong E flow at Pass level. Rain and moderate to strong SW winds near ridgecrest.
Saturday Night Westerly flow at Pass level, turning precipitation to rain. Moderate to strong W ridgeline winds decreasing slightly.
Saturday Stormy. Mixed precipitation possible including freezing rain near the crest. Moderate SW winds increasing in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Showers with rain and freezing rain possible. Moderate to strong W winds.
Saturday Storm with heavy precipitation near the crest. Mixed rain/snow and freezing rain likely. SW winds becoming strong in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers. Mixed precipitation and freezing rain becoming mostly rain overnight. Strong W winds decreasing.
Saturday Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy precipitation near the crest. Mixed rain/snow and freezing rain becoming all rain. SW winds becoming moderate to strong.
Saturday Night Rain showers near the crest. Moderate to strong W winds decreasing.
Saturday Stormy. Rain and high elevation snow, heavy at times. Strong and gusty SW winds increasing.
Saturday Night Scattered showers. Strong W winds decreasing slightly.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 1.00 - 1.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area 2.00 - 2.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 2.00 - 2.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.50 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt 1.00 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Paradise 1.50 - 2.00 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
White Pass 0.75 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.75 -1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 1.00 0.25 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 0
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday 2.00 - 2.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 2.00 - 2.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.50
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.50 - 2.00
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.75 -1.00
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday 1.00 - 1.50
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 7500' 7000' 6500' 7500' 8000'
West North 5000' 6000' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6500'
West Central 5500' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7500'
West South 6500' 7500' 7500' 7500' 7500' 8500'
Stevens Pass 5000' 5000' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 5500' 6000' 7000' 7500' 7500'
East North 0 0 6000' 6000' 5500' 6500'
East Central 0 6000' 6000' 6500' 5500' 6500'
East South 5500' 6500' 7000' 7000' 7000' 8000'
Mt. Hood 7000' 8000' 8000' 7500' 8500' 8500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Morning* 7500'
Saturday Afternoon* 7500'
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night 6500'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6000'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Morning* 6500'
Saturday Afternoon* 7500'
Saturday Evening 7500'
Saturday Night 7500'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening 6500'
Saturday Night 6500'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon* 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday Morning* 7500'
Sunday Afternoon* 7500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 6000'
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 6000'
Saturday Evening 6000'
Saturday Night 6500'
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon* 6500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
Saturday Evening 7000'
Saturday Night 7000'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon* 8000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 8000'
Saturday Evening 8000'
Saturday Night 7500'
Sunday Morning* 8500'
Sunday Afternoon* 8500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Saturday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 36 35 / 33
West North 38 / 36 38 / 34
West Central 39 / 35 38 / 35
West South 39 / 36 38 / 35
Stevens Pass 39 / 28 38 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 38 / 30 38 / 36
East North 37 / 19 35 / 33
East Central 38 / 29 37 / 35
East South 39 / 34 39 / 34
Mt. Hood 39 / 36 39 / 36
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 36
Saturday Night 35 / 33
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 38 / 36
Saturday Night 38 / 34
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 35
Saturday Night 38 / 35
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 36
Saturday Night 38 / 35
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 28
Saturday Night 38 / 35
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 38 / 30
Saturday Night 38 / 36
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 37 / 19
Saturday Night 35 / 33
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 38 / 29
Saturday Night 37 / 35
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 34
Saturday Night 39 / 34
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday 39 / 36
Saturday Night 39 / 36

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night
Olympics SW 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
West North S 25-35 SW 25-35 W 15-25 SW 10-20
West Central SW 15-25 SW 15-25 W 20-30 W 10-20
West South SW 20-30 SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25
Stevens Pass SW 10-20 SW 15-25 W 15-25 W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass SW 15-25 SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25
East North SSW 10-20 SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 20-30
East Central SW 20-30 SW 30-40 W 30-40 W 25-35
East South SW 15-25 SW 20-30 W 20-30 W 15-25
Mt. Hood SW 25-35 SW 35-50 W 35-50 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
Saturday Evening SW 10-20
Saturday Night SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning S 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 25-35
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 15-25
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 15-25
Saturday Evening W 15-25
Saturday Night W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SSW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 20-30
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 30-40
Saturday Evening W 30-40
Saturday Night W 25-35
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
Saturday Evening W 20-30
Saturday Night W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Morning SW 25-35
Saturday Afternoon SW 35-50
Saturday Evening W 35-50
Saturday Night W 30-40

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

Previous forecast from Dec 23, 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’.