Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A warm front moving into the Pacific Northwest Saturday evening will bring heavy precipitation to Washington State along with a sharp rise in temperatures. Moderate WSW winds bring the warm air into the region as freezing levels quickly rise to 4000-6000 ft in areas west of the Cascade Crest. However, the battle of the airmasses will be most intense near and just east of the Crest. In these areas areas low-level E flow will keep elevations below 4500 ft cooler, postponing the transition to rain. There exists more uncertainty than usual regarding the timing and nature of the transition. Before the snow changes to rain, Snoqualmie can expect a storm total of 6-12" while stevens can expect 8-14" of snow. Snow totals at Paradise should be the highest with around 1.5 ft. A mixture of sleet and freezing rain is likely in the early hours into Sunday morning for the mountain gaps and areas east of the Cascade Crest, so drive carefully!

As a cold front shifts from NW to SE across the region on Sunday, firehose of moisture shifts south towards southern Washington and particularly Mt Hood on Sunday. North of the front, precipitation generally becomes light and showery, but cooling will be very modest and snow levels remain elevated. Winds decrease across the region into the light to moderate range.

Rain and higher elevation snow showers linger under weak troughing Sunday night through Monday morning. Expect partly cloudy skies in the afternoon as a ridge starts building offshore.

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
Saturday Night Heavy rain and higher elevation snow quickly taper to light to moderate rain and snow showers.
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers with sun breaks possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Heavy snow mixes with or changes to rain and becomes showery in the early morning hours. Rising snow levels.
Sunday Decreasing light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Very heavy snow, mixing with possibly changing over to rain.
Sunday Decreasing light to moderate rain and high-elevation snow showers.
Saturday Night Very heavy snow, mixing with changing over to rain as snow levels rise.
Sunday Moderate to heavy rain and high-elevation snow for Paradise, White Pass, Mt St Helens and Mt Adams become light to moderate showers in the afternoon. Decreasing light rain and high-elevation snow at Crystal tapering to showers.
Saturday Night Heavy snow in the evening, with freezing rain or rain at times after midnight. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate rain and high-elevation snow, with a chance of freezing rain through the morning hours. Mostly light ridgeline winds. Light E winds at the pass become variable by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Heavy snow in the evening, with freezing rain or rain at times from late evening onwards. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Moderate rain and high-elevation snow, with a slight chance of freezing rain early. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. Light E winds at the pass become variable by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Heavy snow becomes light to moderate and showery by morning.
Sunday Decreasing light snow showers.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy snow mixing with freezing rain or rain in the early morning hours.
Sunday A wintry mix remains possible throughout the eastern portions of the zone. Further west, expect moderate rain and high-elevation snow to become light and showery by the afternoon.
Saturday Night Moderate to heavy snow mixing with or changing to freezing rain or rain after midnight
Sunday Light rain and high-elevation snow becomes showery in the afternoon. Pockets of freezing rain are possible in sheltered valley locations.
Saturday Night Moderate rain and high-elevation snow becomes very heavy overnight. Strong ridgeline winds with extreme gusts.
Sunday Decreasing heavy rain and high-elevation snow. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.50 LT 0.10 0 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 -1.00 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.00 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 1.50 - 2.00 0.50 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 2.00 - 2.50 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Paradise 2.50 - 3.50 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
White Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 1.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Hood Meadows 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 2.00 - 2.50
Sunday 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 2.50 - 3.50
Sunday 0.75 -1.00
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75 -1.00
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Sunday 1.00 - 1.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 5500' 7000' 7000' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000'
West North 2000' 3000' 4500' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000'
West Central 1500' 4000' 5500' 5500' 5000' 5000' 4000' 4000'
West South 3000' 5000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 1500' 3000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 3500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000'
East North 500' 2000' 2500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
East Central 1500' 2500' 4000' 4000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4000'
East South 2500' 4500' 6000' 6000' 6000' 5500' 4500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 6500' 6500' 5500' 4500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5500'
Saturday Night* 7000'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3000'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon 5000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 5500'
Sunday Afternoon 5500'
Sunday Evening 5500'
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 4000'
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon 4000'
Sunday Evening 5000'
Sunday Night 4500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon 6000'
Sunday Evening 6000'
Sunday Night 5500'
Monday Morning 4500'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 7000'
Sunday Morning* 7000'
Sunday Afternoon 6500'
Sunday Evening 6500'
Sunday Night 6500'
Monday Morning 5500'
Monday Afternoon 4500'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 39 / 32 39 / 34
West North 34 / 28 37 / 34
West Central 35 / 28 38 / 35
West South 33 / 31 38 / 34
Stevens Pass 33 / 24 37 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 35 / 26 38 / 34
East North 30 / 20 34 / 29
East Central 34 / 24 37 / 33
East South 35 / 30 38 / 35
Mt. Hood 37 / 30 39 / 37
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 39 / 32
Sunday 39 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 28
Sunday 37 / 34
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 28
Sunday 38 / 35
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 31
Sunday 38 / 34
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 24
Sunday 37 / 33
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 26
Sunday 38 / 34
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 20
Sunday 34 / 29
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 34 / 24
Sunday 37 / 33
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 35 / 30
Sunday 38 / 35
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 37 / 30
Sunday 39 / 37

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, December 9, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

A ridge dominates the weather pattern early next week. Freezing levels rise above seasonal norms with little or no chances of precipitation.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 4500' 5500' 6000' 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4500' 4500' 5000' 7500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5500' 6000' 7500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday * 5500'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday * 6000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday * 4500'
Tuesday Night* 5000'
Wednesday * 7500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday * 5500'
Tuesday Night* 6000'
Wednesday * 7500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 9, 2023

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’.