Issued: 7:11 AM 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

Weather Synopsis

A cold front with heavy precipitation and strong winds will sweep through the Cascades late morning for the Washinton Cascades and closer to noon for the Mt Hood region. Freezing rain should continue for Stevens, Snoqualmie and areas east of Hwy 2 until after the cold front passage. In these areas, a brief period of westerlies and onshore gradients will help mix in some relatively milder air at Pass level Monday afternoon and bring a pause to freezing rain. Precipitation should become much lighter and more showery Monday afternoon. 

In our rapid fire storm pattern, yet another low pressure system will affect the area tonight and tomorrow.  A warm front will lift north tonight, affecting the Mt Hood area first and the southern Washington Cascades overnight.  An occluded front will pass inland Tuesday afternoon.  Once again, there's a chance for freezing rain at Snoqualmie beginning this evening through Tuesday early afternoon, but Stevens *should* remain colder this time around.  There will be a mix of snow levels elsewhere, generally cooler to the north and milder to the south. South of the upper low and behind tomorrow's front, there looks to be an extreme burst of westerly winds from about Snoqualmie Pass southward.  The track of the low will determine who sees the strongest winds. 

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 Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow through mid-morning, then mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow through mid-morning, then mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow through mid-morning, then mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Stormy with moderate to heavy rain and snow through late morning, then mostly cloudy with light scattered rain and snow showers.
Monday Night Light showers becoming moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Light to moderate freezing rain increasing late morning, then becoming light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level becoming west in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Moderate freezing rain increasing late morning, then becoming light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level becoming west in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow or freezing rain after midnight.
Monday Light to moderate rain and snow, with areas of freezing rain then scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Light to moderate freezing rain increasing late morning, then becoming light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Light to moderate freezing rain increasing late morning, then becoming light scattered rain and snow showers in the afternoon.
Monday Night Light showers becoming light to moderate rain and snow after midnight.
Monday Light rain and snow becoming moderate to strong mid-day, then light showers late. Strong winds.
Monday Night Becoming stormy overnight with rain, snow and winds increasing.

Precipitation (in)

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

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 4500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 5500'
West North 6500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 4500'
West Central 6000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500' 4500'
West South 7000' 5500' 7000' 6500' 5500' 4500'
Stevens Pass 7000' 5500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 7000' 5500' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4500'
East North 3000' 5500' 3000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East Central 7000' 6000' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500'
East South 7000' 6000' 6000' 4000' 4000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 7500' 7500' 9000' 8000' 6500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Morning* 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 7000'
Tuesday Morning* 6000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5500'
West North Elevation
Monday Morning* 6500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 6000'
Monday Afternoon 5000'
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 7000'
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday Morning* 5500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 3500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'
East South Elevation
Monday Morning* 7000'
Monday Afternoon 6000'
Monday Evening* 6000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Morning* 7500'
Monday Afternoon 7500'
Monday Evening* 9000'
Monday Night* 8000'
Tuesday Morning* 6500'
Tuesday Afternoon 4500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 37 / 31 38 / 29
West North 38 / 31 35 / 29
West Central 39 / 30 34 / 29
West South 38 / 35 37 / 35
Stevens Pass 38 / 32 34 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 37 / 32 35 / 31
East North 37 / 30 30 / 26
East Central 36 / 32 34 / 31
East South 39 / 36 36 / 35
Mt. Hood 40 / 39 40 / 35
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 37 / 31
Monday Night 38 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 38 / 31
Monday Night 35 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 39 / 30
Monday Night 34 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 38 / 35
Monday Night 37 / 35
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 38 / 32
Monday Night 34 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 37 / 32
Monday Night 35 / 31
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 37 / 30
Monday Night 30 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 36 / 32
Monday Night 34 / 31
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 39 / 36
Monday Night 36 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 40 / 39
Monday Night 40 / 35

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

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’.