The latter half of the Holiday week brings more wind, unseasonably mild weather, and some precipitation.
A deep upper-level low offshore continues to drive decreasing moderate E flow through the evening hours. A secondary front that is known in the meteorological lexicon as a "bent-back occlusion" arrives Wednesday night behind the initial frontal passage. These bent-back occlusions have a history of windstorms in the Pacific Northwest, but this one tracks far enough offshore that we just get a glancing blow. Hurricane Ridge and Mt Baker can expect some hours of 30 mph winds with some 50+ mph gusts before the low exits into British Columbia. The tight pressure gradients driving these winds will also have enough moisture to produce moderate rain and snow for the Olympics, Mt Baker, Mt St Helens, and Paradise overnight. In the case of Mt Baker, the more intense precipitation extends through the morning hours on Thursday. West of the Cascade Crest, snow levels hover around 5000 ft (a touch lower than on Wednesday). However, persistent SSW flow has eroded significant amounts of the cold air pool east of the Cascades, so lighter precipitation south of Highway 2 arrives as a wintry mix or rain at lower elevations east of the Cascade Crest.
Rain and snow shower activity taper on Thursday as a ridge builds across the interior. Expect mostly cloudy skies to linger.
Another relatively deep upper low moves into our offshore waters Thursday night and Friday, driving another round of increasing E winds, which could reach moderate strength on Friday. SSW flow continues to spin limited moisture into the Olympics at times with some very light upslope rain, snow, or wintry mix possible at times along the east slopes of the Cascades.
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
Wednesday
Night
Moderate rain and snow.
Thursday
Light rain or snow showers decrease.
Wednesday
Night
Light rain and snow become moderate to heavy overnight.
Thursday
Moderate rain and snow become light and end by the evening.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing mostly light rain and snow.
Thursday
Light rain and snow taper to isolated flurries or sprinkles in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Increasing light rain and higher elevation snow become moderate for the volcanoes overnight.
Thursday
Light rain and snow taper to isolated flurries or sprinkles in the afternoon.
Wednesday
Night
Periods of light rain, snow, or wintry mix. Light ridgeline and light E winds at the Pass.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases end during the morning hours. Skies become mostly cloudy. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Night
Periods of light rain, snow, and wintry mix. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and E winds at the Pass become light.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases end during the morning hours. Skies become mostly cloudy. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Wednesday
Night
Periods of light snow.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases end during the morning hours. Skies become mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Night
Periods orf light rain, snow, and wintry mix.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases end during the morning hours. Skies become mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Night
Periods of light rain, snow, and wintry mix.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases and ends early. Skies become mostly cloudy.
Wednesday
Night
Periods of light rain, snow, or wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline winds with strong gusts.
Thursday
Light rain, snow, or wintry mix decreases and ends early. Skies become mostly cloudy.
Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
Thursday
Thursday Night
Friday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
0.50
LT 0.25
0
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
0.75
0.75
0
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0.25
0.25
0
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Crystal Mt
0.25
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Paradise
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
White Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0.25
Timberline
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0.25
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0.50
Thursday
LT 0.25
Thursday Night
0
Friday
LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0.75
Thursday
0.75
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0.25
Thursday
0.25
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
0
Friday
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
0
Friday
LT 0.10
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0.25
Thursday
LT 0.25
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
0.25 - 0.50
Thursday
LT 0.25
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
0
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.25
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Wednesday Night
LT 0.10
Thursday
LT 0.10
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Wednesday
Evening*
Wednesday
Night*
Thursday
Morning*
Thursday
Afternoon*
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon*
Olympics
5000'
5000'
5000'
5500'
6500'
7000'
7000'
8000'
West North
5000'
4500'
5000'
5000'
6000'
5000'
5500'
8000'
West Central
5000'
5000'
5000'
6000'
5500'
5000'
6500'
8000'
West South
5000'
5000'
5000'
6500'
5000'
5000'
6500'
8000'
Stevens Pass
3000'
3000'
3000'
5000'
4500'
4500'
4500'
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
3000'
3000'
3000'
6000'
5000'
5500'
6000'
7000'
East North
2500'
2500'
2500'
4000'
4000'
3500'
3500'
5000'
East Central
3000'
3000'
3000'
5000'
4000'
4000'
4500'
5500'
East South
3500'
3000'
3000'
6000'
5000'
4500'
5000'
6000'
Mt. Hood
5500'
5000'
5500'
7000'
6500'
6000'
6500'
7500'
Olympics
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
5000'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
5500'
Thursday
Evening*
6500'
Thursday
Night*
7000'
Friday
Morning*
7000'
Friday
Afternoon*
8000'
West North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
5000'
Wednesday
Night*
4500'
Thursday
Morning*
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
5000'
Thursday
Evening*
6000'
Thursday
Night*
5000'
Friday
Morning*
5500'
Friday
Afternoon*
8000'
West Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
5000'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
6000'
Thursday
Evening*
5500'
Thursday
Night*
5000'
Friday
Morning*
6500'
Friday
Afternoon*
8000'
West South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
5000'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
5000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
6500'
Thursday
Evening*
5000'
Thursday
Night*
5000'
Friday
Morning*
6500'
Friday
Afternoon*
8000'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
3000'
Thursday
Morning*
3000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
5000'
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
4500'
Friday
Morning*
4500'
Friday
Afternoon*
6000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
3000'
Thursday
Morning*
3000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
6000'
Thursday
Evening*
5000'
Thursday
Night*
5500'
Friday
Morning*
6000'
Friday
Afternoon*
7000'
East North
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
2500'
Wednesday
Night*
2500'
Thursday
Morning*
2500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
4000'
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5000'
East Central
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
3000'
Wednesday
Night*
3000'
Thursday
Morning*
3000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
5000'
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
4000'
Friday
Morning*
4500'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
East South
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
3500'
Wednesday
Night*
3000'
Thursday
Morning*
3000'
Thursday
Afternoon*
6000'
Thursday
Evening*
5000'
Thursday
Night*
4500'
Friday
Morning*
5000'
Friday
Afternoon*
6000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Wednesday
Evening*
5500'
Wednesday
Night*
5000'
Thursday
Morning*
5500'
Thursday
Afternoon*
7000'
Thursday
Evening*
6500'
Thursday
Night*
6000'
Friday
Morning*
6500'
Friday
Afternoon*
7500'
Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, December 27, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
33 / 32
35 / 32
West North
33 / 32
35 / 31
West Central
31 / 28
36 / 31
West South
34 / 31
37 / 32
Stevens Pass
30 / 27
36 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass
31 / 28
34 / 31
East North
27 / 26
32 / 26
East Central
31 / 28
36 / 31
East South
32 / 29
36 / 31
Mt. Hood
34 / 31
38 / 30
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
33 / 32
Thursday
35 / 32
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
33 / 32
Thursday
35 / 31
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
31 / 28
Thursday
36 / 31
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
34 / 31
Thursday
37 / 32
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
30 / 27
Thursday
36 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
31 / 28
Thursday
34 / 31
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
27 / 26
Thursday
32 / 26
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
31 / 28
Thursday
36 / 31
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
32 / 29
Thursday
36 / 31
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Wednesday
Night
34 / 31
Thursday
38 / 30
Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
Wednesday
Night
Thursday
Morning
Thursday
Afternoon
Olympics
S 25-35
SSW 20-30
SSW 10-20
S 10-20
West North
S 20-30
S 20-30
SSW 15-25
S 10-20
West Central
SSE 10-20
SSE 10-20
S 5-15
SSE 5-15
West South
S 15-25
SSW 15-25
SSW 10-20
S 5-15
Stevens Pass
SSE 5-15
S 10-20
SSW 5-15
SSE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
ESE 10-20
SE 10-20
SE 5-15
ESE 10-20
East North
S 5-15
S 10-20
SSW 5-15
S 5-15
East Central
SSW 15-25
SSW 15-25
SSW 10-20
S 10-20
East South
SSW 10-20
SSW 10-20
S 5-15
SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood
SSW 15-25
SSW 15-25
SW 10-20
SSW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
S
25-35
Wednesday
Night
SSW
20-30
Thursday
Morning
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
S
20-30
Wednesday
Night
S
20-30
Thursday
Morning
SSW
15-25
Thursday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
SSE
10-20
Wednesday
Night
SSE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
S
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
S
15-25
Wednesday
Night
SSW
15-25
Thursday
Morning
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
S
5-15
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
SSE
5-15
Wednesday
Night
S
10-20
Thursday
Morning
SSW
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
ESE
10-20
Wednesday
Night
SE
10-20
Thursday
Morning
SE
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
ESE
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
S
5-15
Wednesday
Night
S
10-20
Thursday
Morning
SSW
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
S
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
SSW
15-25
Wednesday
Night
SSW
15-25
Thursday
Morning
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
S
10-20
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
SSW
10-20
Wednesday
Night
SSW
10-20
Thursday
Morning
S
5-15
Thursday
Afternoon
SSE
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Wednesday
Evening
SSW
15-25
Wednesday
Night
SSW
15-25
Thursday
Morning
SW
10-20
Thursday
Afternoon
SSW
10-20
Issued: 2:08 PM PST Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
Unseasonably mild weather continues. The offshore low weakens and splits as it reaches the Pacific Northwest coastline. Expect some light rain and high-elevation snow to reach the area late Friday night into Saturday. Slight chances of precipitation linger through the weekend.
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).