Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Our rollercoaster storm pattern continues through the short term. On the heels of a strong frontal system that passed through Monday, we'll see a new round of warm frontal precipitation spread over the area tonight, beginning in the south and working its way north well before daybreak. Heavier precipitation will be found on both sides of the Cascades with a more southerly component, with the heaviest precipitation likely for the south Washington Cascades and Mt Hood area. Southerly winds will also ramp up overnight, becoming strong in many areas. Low level winds will switch back to easterly in the Passes. This should allow Stevens Pass to go back to snow, while Snoqualmie and White Passes will have another chance for freezing rain through early Tuesday afternoon. That said, any ice accretion will be much lighter than what we saw a few days ago. 

An occluded front will pass through early Tuesday morning maintaining stormy conditions.  As the low passes inland on Tuesday, a trailing upper level feature will bring a burst of extreme W-SW winds to the southern half of the forecast area.  Some areas will experience these extreme winds Tuesday afternoon, while some will wait until Tuesday evening. Generally near and south of Hwy 2 will see the strongest winds, with Mt Hood taking the cake. 100 mph gusts should not be an issue for Mt Hood Tuesday afternoon/night. A slight warming trend will accompany the switch to westerly winds Tuesday afternoon. 

Strong to extreme winds will continue for the same areas Tuesday night with steady showers along the west slopes of the Cascades/Mt Hood along with a slow cooling trend that should bring snow levels down to 2500-3000 ft by early Wednesday morning. There's some uncertainty about how long these heavier showers stick around on Wednesday before we enter a very brief dry spell. 

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 Night Light showers in the evening, then becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow late evening with strong to extreme winds.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate rain and snow and strong to extreme winds. Winds strongest in the morning, then tapering in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers in the evening, then becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow after midnight with strong to extreme winds.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow and strong to extreme winds. Winds strongest in the morning, then tapering in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers in the evening, then becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow after midnight with strong winds.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow and strong to extreme winds.
Monday Night Light showers in the evening, then becoming stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow late evening with strong to extreme winds. Chance of freezing rain after midnight White Pass.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow and strong to extreme winds.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Tuesday Light to moderate rain and snow. Light to moderate wind East winds at Pass level and ridgeline becoming strong West in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow or freezing rain after midnight. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level and ridgeline.
Tuesday Light to moderate rain and snow. Chance of freezing rain in the morning. Moderate wind East winds at Pass level and ridgeline becoming strong to extreme West in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Tuesday Moderate rain and snow.
Monday Night Light showers becoming moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow after midnight. Patchy freezing rain possible overnight.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow and strong winds. Chance of freezing rain in the morning.
Monday Night Light showers becoming moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow after midnight. Patchy freezing rain possible overnight.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to occasionally heavy rain and snow and extreme winds.
Monday Night Becoming stormy overnight with rain, snow and extreme winds.
Tuesday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow and extreme winds.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics 7000' 7000' 6000' 5000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West North 4000' 4500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West Central 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
West South 7000' 6500' 5500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Stevens Pass 4500' 3500' 3500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500'
East North 3000' 3500' 3500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
East Central 5000' 3500' 4000' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
East South 6000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
Mt. Hood 9000' 8000' 6500' 4500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 2500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 8000'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Tuesday Evening 3500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday Morning 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon 3000'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 31 36 / 27
West North 35 / 29 36 / 29
West Central 35 / 30 34 / 26
West South 38 / 35 35 / 26
Stevens Pass 33 / 29 34 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 34 / 31 33 / 26
East North 30 / 26 33 / 29
East Central 34 / 30 34 / 26
East South 36 / 34 35 / 26
Mt. Hood 40 / 36 35 / 26
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 31
Tuesday 36 / 27
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 29
Tuesday 36 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 30
Tuesday 34 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 38 / 35
Tuesday 35 / 26
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 29
Tuesday 34 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 31
Tuesday 33 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 26
Tuesday 33 / 29
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 34 / 26
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 36 / 34
Tuesday 35 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 40 / 36
Tuesday 35 / 26

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics SE 20-30 S 35-50 S 30-40 SW 10-20
West North SSE 10-20 SSE 35-50 S 25-35 SSW 20-30
West Central SE 10-20 SE 25-35 S 25-35 SW 20-30
West South S 20-30 S 30-40 S 30-40 SW 35-50
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 SE 15-25 SE 15-25 SSW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass SE 15-25 SE 20-30 SE 20-30 SSW 35-50
East North SSE 10-20 SSE 15-25 S 15-25 SW 15-25
East Central SSE 15-25 SSE 20-30 S 20-30 SSW 30-40
East South S 10-20 S 20-30 S 25-35 SW 35-50
Mt. Hood SSW 25-35 SW 35-50 SW 35-50 WSW 45-65
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 20-30
Monday Night S 35-50
Tuesday Morning S 30-40
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSE 10-20
Monday Night SSE 35-50
Tuesday Morning S 25-35
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 10-20
Monday Night SE 25-35
Tuesday Morning S 25-35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 20-30
Monday Night S 30-40
Tuesday Morning S 30-40
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35-50
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 10-20
Monday Night SE 15-25
Tuesday Morning SE 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 20-30
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SE 15-25
Monday Night SE 20-30
Tuesday Morning SE 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 35-50
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSE 10-20
Monday Night SSE 15-25
Tuesday Morning S 15-25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSE 15-25
Monday Night SSE 20-30
Tuesday Morning S 20-30
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 30-40
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening S 10-20
Monday Night S 20-30
Tuesday Morning S 25-35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 35-50
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SSW 25-35
Monday Night SW 35-50
Tuesday Morning SW 35-50
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 45-65

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Monday, December 26, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

A quick-moving upper level ridge will slide over the area Wednesday night along with a short period of dry weather. The ridge will give way to a weak frontal system on Thursday.  A more significant system, although nowhere as wild as the weather over the last week, should impact the area on Friday. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 1500' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 2000' 2500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 4000' 4500' 4500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 4000'
Thursday Night 4500'
Friday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 26, 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’.