Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

On Christmas afternoon we find ourselves between a warm front that pushed through the area early today and its trailing cold front. While a few showers continue to linger in the mountains, mainly it's just relatively warm and damp. A few colder air pockets continue to linger in the east-side valleys from near Leavenworth north to the Methow region.

As we head into the evening hours, winds will turn more southerly and increase significantly. Locations near Hurricane Ridge, Mt Baker, Mission Ridge, Crystal Mt, and Mt Hood could see very strong and gusty winds as the front approaches and passes. This will correspond with the heaviest bands of precipitation and create stormy conditions for many areas overnight and into Monday morning. The front should pass across the mountains mid to late morning. As it does so winds will turn more westerly and decrease. Southerly winds with this system will favor locations near the volcanoes and help push some of the precipitation east of the Cascade crest. As the storm exits, post-frontal showers will try to pull a bit more moisture out of the air mass, but a fast approaching low-pressure will limit any significant accumulation. 

Our second weather system barrels towards the coast Monday night. As the low continues to strengthen, it will start to spread precipitation, along with slightly cooler air, over the Pacific Northwest. Snowlevels should gradually drop. However, the exact position of the storm could make a huge difference in how quickly we cool and how much moisture we receive. Therefore confidence is quite low in precipitation amounts for this storm. Two things do feel more clear: the system will favor southern portions of the zone and wrap-around moisture will help enhance storm totals for locations east of the Cascades like Ahtanum Meadows and the Wenatchee Mts. 

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
Sunday Night Becoming stormy. Winds significantly increasing and becoming strong and gusty, Rain developing moderate to heavy at times.
Monday Stormy in the morning with strong and gusty winds. Precipitation and wind speeds decreasing in the afternoon
Sunday Night Rain and wind increasing overnight. Becoming stormy with very strong and gusty S winds Rainfall could be heavy at times
Monday Very stormy in the morning with strong and gusty winds and periods of heavy rain. Precipitation and wind speeds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Stormy conditions developing overnight with rain, moderate to heavy at times, and strong and gusty winds.
Monday Stormy, particularly in the morning. Rainfall and wind speeds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Stormy conditions developing particularly near Mt Rainier and Crystal. Rain could be moderate to heavy at times. Strong and gusty winds.
Monday Stormy in the morning, with periods of moderate to heavy rain and strong and gusty winds. Precipitation and wind speeds decreasing during the day.
Sunday Night Showers turning to light to moderate rain overnight. Light to moderate E flow at Pass level. Moderate southerly ridgeline winds.
Monday Rain in the morning, becoming showery in the afternoon. Light E flow becoming W. Moderate ridgetop winds decreasing.
Sunday Night Showers turning to light to moderate rain overnight. Moderate E flow at Pass level. Moderate S ridgeline winds increasing.
Monday Light to moderate rain in the morning becoming showery in the afternoon. Moderate E flow at Pass level significantly decreasing and becoming light and variable. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with showers developing overnight, heaviest near the crest. Light to moderate SW winds becoming S and increasing.
Monday Cloudy with showers, heaviest in the morning. Moderate SW winds decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with showers developing overnight. Windy. SW winds becoming strong and gusty.
Monday Cloudy with showers heaviest in the morning. Strong and gusty winds decreasing significantly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with isolated showers especially after midnight. SW winds becoming strong and gusty.
Monday Cloudy with showers heaviest in the morning. Strong W winds decreasing significantly in the afternoon.
Sunday Night SW winds becoming very strong and gusty overnight. Isolated showers.
Monday Stormy. Rain increasing throughout the morning. Very strong and gusty winds decreasing in the afternoon.

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 7000' 7500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 6000' 5000' 4000'
West North 7500' 7000' 6500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4000'
West Central 7500' 7000' 6500' 5500' 5000' 6000' 5000' 4000'
West South 8000' 7000' 7000' 6000' 6500' 7000' 5500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 8000' 7000' 7000' 5500' 4500' 5500' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 8000' 7000' 7000' 5500' 5000' 6000' 4500' 4000'
East North 7000' 6000' 5500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000' 3500'
East Central 8000' 7000' 6000' 4500' 4500' 5000' 4000' 4000'
East South 8000' 7500' 7000' 5500' 5500' 6000' 5000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 8000' 7500' 7500' 7000' 7500' 7000' 6000' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7500'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening* 6500'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening* 7000'
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 3500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7000'
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening* 8000'
Sunday Night* 7500'
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon 7000'
Monday Evening* 7500'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 40 / 37 37 / 30
West North 40 / 37 37 / 29
West Central 38 / 36 38 / 30
West South 41 / 37 38 / 35
Stevens Pass 37 / 34 38 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 35 38 / 32
East North 32 / 31 36 / 28
East Central 37 / 35 36 / 33
East South 39 / 37 39 / 35
Mt. Hood 42 / 38 40 / 39
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 37
Monday 37 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 40 / 37
Monday 37 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 38 / 36
Monday 38 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 41 / 37
Monday 38 / 35
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 34
Monday 38 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 35
Monday 38 / 32
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 32 / 31
Monday 36 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 37 / 35
Monday 36 / 33
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 39 / 37
Monday 39 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 42 / 38
Monday 40 / 39

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics SSW 20-30 SSW 30-40 SW 25-35 SW 5-15
West North S 25-35 S 30-40 SW 25-35 SW 10-20
West Central SSW 20-30 S 25-35 SW 20-30 SW 10-20
West South SSW 20-30 SSW 25-35 SW 20-30 WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass SSW 10-20 SSE 15-25 SW 15-25 W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass S 15-25 S 20-30 SW 20-30 W 10-20
East North SW 10-20 S 15-25 SW 15-25 W 5-15
East Central SW 20-30 SW 30-40 W 25-35 W 10-20
East South SW 15-25 SW 30-40 W 25-35 W 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 35-50 W 35-50 W 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 20-30
Sunday Night SSW 30-40
Monday Morning SW 25-35
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 25-35
Sunday Night S 30-40
Monday Morning SW 25-35
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 20-30
Sunday Night S 25-35
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 20-30
Sunday Night SSW 25-35
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SSW 10-20
Sunday Night SSE 15-25
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening S 15-25
Sunday Night S 20-30
Monday Morning SW 20-30
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 10-20
Sunday Night S 15-25
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night SW 30-40
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 15-25
Sunday Night SW 30-40
Monday Morning W 25-35
Monday Afternoon W 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 20-30
Sunday Night SW 35-50
Monday Morning W 35-50
Monday Afternoon W 20-30

Issued: 1:58 PM PST Sunday, December 25, 2022

Extended Weather Synopsis

The low pressure from Tuesday finally meanders its way inland, leaving plenty of moisture and onshore flow to continue wringing out rain and snow in the mountains. Just as showers finally start to taper off, the jet stream becomes more zonal (W to E) and ushers in several rounds of precipitation. The first of these waves appear to arrive Thursday. After such a warm and often rainy holiday weekend, the lower snow levels with these storms should be a welcome sight.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night* Thursday *
West North 3500' 3000' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 3000' 3000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night* 2500'
Thursday * 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 3500'
Wednesday 3000'
Wednesday Night* 3000'
Thursday * 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 4500'
Wednesday 4000'
Wednesday Night* 3500'
Thursday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 25, 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’.