Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A few showers continue to linger along the west slopes of the Olympics and Cascades this afternoon, while areas near Mt Hood, Crystal Mt, and spots further east experience more blue sky. As we head into the evening the overall trend will be for drying and clearing as we start the clock on a roughly 24 hr break without precipitation. 

Mostly clear skies and generally light winds overnight will allow low clouds and fog to develop in some of the mountain valleys and passes. In the morning, it could be socked in near the trailhead, but it's likely sunny above. This will be particularly true near the passes, where developing easterly flow could help keep the lower levels foggy much longer. The sunny skies won't last long. Clouds out ahead of our next storm should arrive in the Olympics and southern Cascades by mid-morning and then spread from SW to NE throughout the day. 

Precipitation slowly drifts inland in the evening and overnight hours. With the jet stream keeping the bulk of the storm focussed well to our south, this doesn't look like a big snow producer for our region. Instead, generally light snow and moderate winds spread northward stalling out along the I-90 corridor by Wednesday morning. Showers continue to linger into the afternoon and evening along the west slopes of the range. While most trailheads will only see a few inches of snow, Mt Hood, Mt Rainier, and Mt St Helens could receive closer to 4-8 inches at mid-elevations. 

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 Night Mostly clear with a few isolated showers in the western Olympics in the evening. Low clouds and valley fog developing.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds thickening and lowering throughout the day.
Monday Night A few isolated showers in the evening, then clearing with low clouds and valley fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon.
Monday Night Isolated showers in the evening, then some clearing. Low clouds and valley fog developing.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with high clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Isolated showers possible in the evening, then clearing with low clouds and valley fog developing.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds thickening and lowering throughout the day.
Monday Night Isolated showers in the evening, then some clearing with low clouds and fog. Light and variable pass winds.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with possible in the pass. High clouds increasing in the afternoon. E flow developing at pass level.
Monday Night Isolated showers in the evening, then some clearing with low clouds and fog. Light and variable winds at pass level.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with some fog possible at the pass. Clouds increasing by mid-day. Light east wind developing.
Monday Night Mostly clear with low clouds and valley fog. A few very isolated showers possible near the crest in the evening.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with high clouds increasing in the afternoon.
Monday Night Partly cloudy to mostly clear with a few isolated showers near the crest in the evening. Then clearing with low clouds and valley fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds increasing in the afternoon. S winds becoming light to moderate.
Monday Night Mostly clear with low clouds and valley fog.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds thickening and lowering. S winds becoming light to moderate.
Monday Night Mostly clear with low clouds and fog. A few isolated showers possible.
Tuesday Mostly sunny in the morning with clouds thickening and lowering. SW winds becoming light to moderate.

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 2500' 2500' 2000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500'
West North 2000' 2000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1500' 2000'
West Central 2500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 1000' 1500' 2000'
West South 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 2500' 3000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2500' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1000' 2000' 2000'
East North 2000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 500' 1000'
East Central 2000' 2000' 1000' 1500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1000'
East South 2500' 2500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 2500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 1500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2000'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening 2000'
Monday Night 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 1000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 1500'
Tuesday Evening* 1000'
Tuesday Night* 500'
Wednesday Morning* 1000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 1000'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2000'
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening 2500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 25 / 20 27 / 20
West North 24 / 21 25 / 19
West Central 26 / 22 25 / 20
West South 26 / 19 26 / 19
Stevens Pass 27 / 19 25 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 19 25 / 20
East North 23 / 15 21 / 16
East Central 24 / 18 24 / 16
East South 24 / 18 24 / 16
Mt. Hood 26 / 20 29 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 20
Tuesday 27 / 20
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 21
Tuesday 25 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 22
Tuesday 25 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 19
Tuesday 26 / 19
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 19
Tuesday 25 / 29
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 19
Tuesday 25 / 20
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 15
Tuesday 21 / 16
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 18
Tuesday 24 / 16
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 24 / 18
Tuesday 24 / 16
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 20
Tuesday 29 / 20

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Evening Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics W 0-10 S 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15
West North SW 5-15 S 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15
West Central W 5-15 SSW 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15
West South W 5-15 VAR 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15
Stevens Pass W 5-15 W 0-10 SSE 0-10 SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 W 0-10 SSE 5-15 SE 5-15
East North W 5-15 W 0-10 S 5-15 S 5-15
East Central W 5-15 W 0-10 S 5-15 S 10-20
East South W 5-15 W 0-10 S 5-15 S 10-20
Mt. Hood NW 5-15 WSW 0-10 SSW 5-15 SW 10-20
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 0-10
Monday Night S 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening SW 5-15
Monday Night S 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night SSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night VAR 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSE 0-10
Tuesday Afternoon SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSE 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening W 5-15
Monday Night W 0-10
Tuesday Morning S 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon S 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Evening NW 5-15
Monday Night WSW 0-10
Tuesday Morning SSW 5-15
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10-20

Issued: 2:00 PM PST Monday, December 30, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Our active weather pattern continues for the remainder of the week. Showers should start to dwindle by Wednesday night, but any "break" looks short-lived. Weather models disagree about the timing of the next two weather systems. One seems to arrive Thursday with the second impacting the area Friday. While there may be some disagreement about when, where, and how much rain and snow these storms will bring, there are a few items of confidence. The second storm looks substantially stronger than the first. Unfortunately that bigger system also comes with a more pronounced warming trend. We'll have to see how the details shake out as we get closer. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night* Thursday Thursday Night* Friday *
West North 2000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 4000' 4500' 4500' 5000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night* 2000'
Thursday 2500'
Thursday Night* 2500'
Friday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night* 2500'
Thursday 3000'
Thursday Night* 3000'
Friday * 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night* 4000'
Thursday 4500'
Thursday Night* 4500'
Friday * 5000'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 30, 2024

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’.

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