Issued: 7:12 AM PST Friday, December 23, 2022
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A reasonably strong warm frontal system has brought drastic temperature changes to the west slopes of the Cascades.  24 hours ago our region experienced some of the coldest temperatures we've experienced in years. This morning, temperatures west of the Cascades are up to 40F warmer. The NW-SE oriented frontal system brings the warm air over the top of the cold air at the surface such that mid-elevations are warming much more rapidly than below 4000 ft. This has created a widespread freezing rain event in the lowlands. Meanwhile, the deep cold pool east of the Cascades remains strong and should maintain very cold temperatures (below 0F) with moderate winds ushering that air through the mountain gaps to create dangerously cold wind chills. This should maintain mostly snowfall through the mountain gaps. However, Hurricane Ridge and areas further west may already be experiencing a wintry mix. The main band of precipitation lifts through the north Cascades with heavy snow through the morning hours. WSW winds behind the front will continue to bring in milder air and a wintry mix of shower activity.

These showers should continue with little change in temperatures overnight.

Saturday, a stronger system moves toward the Alaska Panhandle and will bring another round of increasingly heavy rain and snow. With less cold air in place across western Washington, wintry mixes are more likely in the mountain gaps and just east of the Cascade Crest. We expect a changeover from snow to a wintry mix or even rain with additional warming during the day on Saturday with many areas getting an inch or more of water equivalent.

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
Friday Periods of light wintry mix, possibly changing to all rain.
Friday Night Cloudy with showers comprised of rain, snow or a wintry mix.
Friday Heavy snow in the morning tapering to moderate snow showers. Snow may mix with or change to rain.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow showers.
Friday Moderate snow showers with rain, sleet, freezing rain, or rain showers possible in western parts of the area.
Friday Night Moderate rain and snow showers.
Friday Moderate snow showers potentially changing to a wintry mix.
Friday Night Moderate snow showers or wintry mix.
Friday Moderate snow becoming more showery. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Moderate snow showers. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E wind at the Pass.
Friday Moderate snow becoming more showery. Snow may mix with freezing rain, sleet, or rain west of the Pass. Moderate to strong ridgeline and moderate E wind at the Pass.
Friday Night Moderate snow showers. Snow may mix with freezing rain, sleet, or rain west of the Pass. Moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Friday Moderate to heavy now tapering to moderate snow showers.
Friday Night Moderate snow showers.
Friday Decreasing moderate snow showers.
Friday Night Moderate snow showers.
Friday Decreasing moderate snow showers.
Friday Night Light snow showers possibly mixing freezing rain, sleet, or rain in the western part.
Friday Moderate snow, sleet, freezing rain, or rain showers. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Moderate snow, sleet, freezing rain, or rain showers.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Morning* Friday Afternoon* Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon*
Olympics 6000' 6500' 6500' 6500' 7000' 7000'
West North 0 4000' 4000' 4000' 5000' 6000'
West Central 0 0 0 0 6000' 6500'
West South 0 0 0 0 6000' 6500'
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 5000' 6000'
Mt. Hood 0 5000' 5500' 6000' 7000' 8000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Morning* 6000'
Friday Afternoon* 6500'
Friday Evening* 6500'
Friday Night* 6500'
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 7000'
West North Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 4000'
Friday Evening* 4000'
Friday Night* 4000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6000'
West Central Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 6000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
West South Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 6000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
East North Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
East South Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 0'
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Morning* 0'
Friday Afternoon* 5000'
Friday Evening* 5500'
Friday Night* 6000'
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 8000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Friday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 32 35 / 31
West North 33 / 27 34 / 29
West Central 32 / 20 35 / 30
West South 35 / 23 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 31 / 1 33 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 8 33 / 29
East North 15 / -3 27 / 16
East Central 28 / 2 32 / 27
East South 33 / 6 33 / 30
Mt. Hood 36 / 25 37 / 34
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 35 / 32
Friday Night 35 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 33 / 27
Friday Night 34 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 32 / 20
Friday Night 35 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 35 / 23
Friday Night 35 / 32
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 31 / 1
Friday Night 33 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 30 / 8
Friday Night 33 / 29
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 15 / -3
Friday Night 27 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 28 / 2
Friday Night 32 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 33 / 6
Friday Night 33 / 30
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday 36 / 25
Friday Night 37 / 34

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Dec 22, 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’.