Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 24, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A weak frontal system brings cloudy skies to the region on Sunday, along with a chance of very light rain or snow in the afternoon. Easterly winds will be more impactful, peaking early Sunday. These moderate to locally strong S and SE ridgeline winds focus on areas near the Cascade Crest, bringing chilly air through the mountain gaps. To the west of the Cascade Crest, cool air is getting displaced by significantly moderating temperatures thanks to the southerly flow.

Expect modest cooling along with lingering snow flurries Monday evening as the weak front fizzles over the area.

A more impactful atmospheric river aims the brunt of its moisture toward British Columbia on Monday. But rainfall, S and SE winds, and precipitation will increase from light to moderate during the day. The southern Olympics and Mt Baker areas could see heavy precipitation by the afternoon with rising snow levels. Most major ski areas should be able to stave off the transition to rain through the daylight hours on Monday with moderate E flow maintaining cold temperatures and low wind chills through the mountain gaps.

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 Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the early morning hours.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Snow flurries in the evening hours, then cloudy skies.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Snow flurries in the evening hours, then light snow develops in the early morning hours.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of light snow in the afternoon. Moderate to locally strong winds near the Cascade Crest.
Sunday Night Cloudy with snow flurries at times.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of very light snow in the afternoon. Light to moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass decreasing in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with snow flurries at times. Mostly light ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Cloudy with periods of very light snow in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass decrease in the afternoon.
Sunday Night Cloudy with snow flurries at times. Moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Sunday Cloudy with a chance of light snow late in the day.
Sunday Night A few snow flurries in the evening, then cloudy skies.
Sunday Cloudy with a chance of light snow late in the day. Decreasing moderate winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night A few snow flurries in the evening, then cloudy skies.
Sunday Cloudy with a chance of light snow late in the day.
Sunday Night Snow flurries in the evening hours, then light snow develops in the early morning hours.
Sunday Cloudy with a chance of light snow in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 24, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 24, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 6000' 3500' 3000' 3500' 5000' 7500'
West North 1500' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 3500'
West Central 1000' 1500' 1000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
West South 2000' 2000' 2000' 2000' 3000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 500' 1000' 500' 500' 500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1500' 1500' 1000' 1500' 2000'
East North 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
East Central 500' 1000' 500' 0 500' 1000'
East South 1000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning* 5000'
Monday Afternoon* 7500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon* 1500'
Sunday Evening* 1000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 2000'
Sunday Evening* 2000'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon* 1500'
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning* 500'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning* 1000'
Sunday Afternoon* 2000'
Sunday Evening* 1500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 2500'
Sunday Night* 3000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 24, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 26 32 / 26
West North 32 / 27 29 / 26
West Central 31 / 27 27 / 24
West South 30 / 24 30 / 27
Stevens Pass 24 / 18 23 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 21 25 / 22
East North 18 / 12 17 / 15
East Central 23 / 17 25 / 21
East South 27 / 18 26 / 23
Mt. Hood 33 / 25 33 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 26
Sunday Night 32 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 32 / 27
Sunday Night 29 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 31 / 27
Sunday Night 27 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 30 / 24
Sunday Night 30 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 24 / 18
Sunday Night 23 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 25 / 21
Sunday Night 25 / 22
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 18 / 12
Sunday Night 17 / 15
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 23 / 17
Sunday Night 25 / 21
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 27 / 18
Sunday Night 26 / 23
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 33 / 25
Sunday Night 33 / 28

Issued: 7:09 AM PST Sunday, December 24, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

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

Previous forecast from Dec 23, 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’.