Issued: 7:11 AM PST Monday, December 14, 2020
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

Leftover scattered showers will linger across the west slopes of the Cascades, Olympics and Mt Hood this morning, tapering off in a south to north fashion during the day.  Clouds and isolated showers should linger the longest from about the Mt Loop Hwy and north to the Canadian border.  Sunshine should break out south of I-90 on both sides of the Cascades down to Mt Hood today.  An incoming frontal system will approach quickly overnight and push through the Cascades by late Tuesday morning.  Precipitation rates should increase rapidly in the morning with moderate post-frontal showers in the afternoon.  For areas near Hwy 2 and further south, this storm will feature a warming trend after the frontal passage as relatively milder Pacific air becomes mixed throughout the region. Strong post-frontal westerly ridgeline winds are also expected. The warming trend will be more subtle for the North Cascades on Tuesday.  

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 cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing after midnight.
Monday Cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing after midnight.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing late.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light west winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing late. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly cloudy in the afternoon. Light west winds at Pass level.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing late. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy with rain and snow developing late.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy.
Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered light showers in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon.
Monday Night Cloudy.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 4500' 4000'
West North 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3000'
West Central 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 3500'
West South 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 4000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 3000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 4000'
East North 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500' 3500'
East Central 2000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2500' 4000'
East South 2500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 2500'
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning 2000'
Monday Afternoon 2000'
Monday Evening 1500'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning 3500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
Monday Evening 3000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 21 27 / 23
West North 27 / 24 24 / 23
West Central 27 / 25 24 / 22
West South 27 / 25 28 / 20
Stevens Pass 27 / 24 24 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 25 24 / 19
East North 28 / 23 22 / 17
East Central 28 / 23 23 / 19
East South 28 / 23 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 29 / 24 27 / 21
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 26 / 21
Monday Night 27 / 23
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 24
Monday Night 24 / 23
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 25
Monday Night 24 / 22
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 25
Monday Night 28 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 24
Monday Night 24 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 26 / 25
Monday Night 24 / 19
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 23
Monday Night 22 / 17
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 23
Monday Night 23 / 19
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 23
Monday Night 24 / 19
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 29 / 24
Monday Night 27 / 21

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25 SSW 25-35
West North SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 S 20-30
West Central WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20 S 10-20
West South W 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20
Stevens Pass WSW 5-15 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 10-20 WSW 5-15 S 5-15
East North WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20
East Central W 10-20 W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 10-20
East South WNW 10-20 W 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20
Mt. Hood W 15-25 WSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Monday Evening SSW 15-25
Monday Night SSW 25-35
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Monday Evening SSW 10-20
Monday Night S 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 10-20
Monday Night S 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 0-10
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night SSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night S 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 10-20
Monday Night SSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Monday Evening WSW 10-20
Monday Night SW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WNW 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 5-15
Monday Night SW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night SW 15-25

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

Previous forecast from Dec 13, 2020

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’.