Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 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 weak ridge over the Pacific Northwest brought dry, mild weather and plenty of sun breaks Tuesday afternoon. The weak ridge slides eastward overnight as a warm front lifts NE over our region. The warm front will bring some periods of light to very light precipitation along with rising snow levels for areas west of the Cascade Crest.

The bigger story will be the very deep offshore parent low. This low draws a deepening cold air pool east of the Cascades through the mountain gaps. The pressure difference across the Cascades peaks early Wednesday morning around 14 mb. Expect increasing moderate to strong ESE winds near the Cascade Crest, with moderate winds through the mountain gaps, and locally strong and gusty winds for the western Cascade foothills. Models show signs of light upslope snowfall for the east slopes of the Cascades as warm front and E flow combine to lift moisture against the mountainous barrier.

Most of our region may get a brief break in the precipitation early Wednesday while in the warm sector of the storm. Light to locally moderate rain and high-elevation snow moves into the Olympics by late morning and the Cascades by the afternoon. Precipitation should rain below 4500-5500 ft west of the Cascade Crest, a wintry mix for Snoqualmie Pass and areas of the east slopes further south. Expect mostly snowfall from Stevens Pass northward. A front moves through late in the day, decreasing easterly winds and perhaps changing Snoqualmie Pass to rain at pass level.

A second low rotating around the deep offshore parent low heads toward the British Columbia coastline Wednesday night with SW flow feeding light additional precipitation into the region. A ridge builds across the intermountain west and may keep the region mostly dry and mild on Thursday.

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
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain or high-elevation snow from late evening onwards. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing periods of rain and high-elevation snow. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain or snow in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Wednesday Light rain and snow becoming moderate in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with light rain or high-elevation snow in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Light rain and high-elevation snow increases in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow from late evening through early morning hours. Moderate ridgeline winds becoming strong at times. Increasing moderate ridgeline winds will be strongest near the mountain gaps.
Wednesday Light rain and high-elevation snow increases in the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds will be strongest near the mountain gaps.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a chance of light snow in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday Increasing periods of light snow or a wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline and E winds decrease in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a chance of light mixed precipitation or snow in the early morning hours. Increasing moderate to strong ridgeline and E wind at the Pass. Winds may be locally very strong in the Cascade foothills west of the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light snow or a wintry mix could change to rain at pass level by the afternoon. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts. Decreasing moderate E winds at the Pass become light by the day's end.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with increasing chances of light snow. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds become generally light by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with increasing chances of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing light snow or wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease late in the day.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with increasing chances of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Increasing light snow or wintry mix, changing to rain in some areas. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease late in the day.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow, or a wintry mix developing. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong at times.
Wednesday Increasing periods light rain, snow, or a wintry mix. Decreasing moderate to strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 32 38 / 32
West North 36 / 32 38 / 32
West Central 31 / 27 32 / 30
West South 36 / 32 35 / 33
Stevens Pass 31 / 26 31 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 31 / 27 31 / 29
East North 27 / 22 29 / 25
East Central 31 / 26 32 / 30
East South 31 / 28 33 / 28
Mt. Hood 37 / 34 36 / 33
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 38 / 32
Wednesday 38 / 32
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 32
Wednesday 38 / 32
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 27
Wednesday 32 / 30
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 36 / 32
Wednesday 35 / 33
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 26
Wednesday 31 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 27
Wednesday 31 / 29
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 22
Wednesday 29 / 25
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 26
Wednesday 32 / 30
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 28
Wednesday 33 / 28
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 37 / 34
Wednesday 36 / 33

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:04 PM PST Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Thursday night through Saturday night the ridge over the western US and deep offshore low continue to do battle with the offshore system bringing clouds and brushing the Olympics with some very light precipitation at times. Temperatures remain well above seasonal norms. By the time the system arrives, it will be very weak and may spread some light rain and high-elevation snow into the Pacific Northwest on Saturday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night* Friday * Friday Night* Saturday *
West North 5500' 7000' 8000' 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6000' 7500' 8500' 7000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 7500' 8000' 6000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night* 5500'
Friday * 7000'
Friday Night* 8000'
Saturday * 7000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night* 6000'
Friday * 7500'
Friday Night* 8500'
Saturday * 7000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night* 6000'
Friday * 7500'
Friday Night* 8000'
Saturday * 6000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 26, 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’.