Dec 18- Friday, 5–10″ and more this weekend

Andrea Hamilton
59 minutes ago
3 min read

Hello Skiers and Snowboarders,

Short Term Forecast

Friday morning will bring new snow (see map below) of 5 to 10" for ski resorts Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass, and Crystal Mountain. Inland areas like 49 Degrees North and Silver Mountain will get 4 to 8" by Friday morning.

The good news is that we can bid farewell to the Atmospheric Rivers and the associated high snow levels and abundant rainfall. Friday through the weekend, we are expecting cold air to be in place with snow levels averaging close to 2000' over the period.

Over the weekend, there will be a trough of low pressure off our coast, and this will bring chances of snow, with the best chances of snow for Sunday.

When will the ski resorts open? It will depend on road conditions, and DOT has updates on that. It will also depend on the amount of snow on the ground for the resorts, and several resorts indicated that they will make an updated decision on this Friday.

Highlights

Thursday - Friday morning: 5 - 10"
Friday: Up to 4"
Saturday: Up to 4" - higher totals for Mt. Baker.
Sunday: 4 to 8" - higher totals for Mt. Baker

Extended Outlook

Monday, Dec. 22 to Wednesday, Dec 24

Expect continued cold conditions with chances of additional snow for Monday, with 4 to 8" (see second map below) for much of the West Cascades. Tuesday and Wednesday will remain cold with some additional snow expected. We will update you on Sunday, December 21, with the continued good news.

Michael Fagin

Meteorologist

P.S. Don’t miss:

Sponsor Shoutouts - Holiday gift giving.
Whistler: Larry's trip report with good news from Seattle Pat.
Event: No Man's Land Film Fest in January. The Winter edition.

Shop our Sponsors:

The perfect gift comes in many forms — a box, a gift card, or an unforgettable experience.

Gear & Apparel

Sturtevant's in Bellevue. Daily boot fitting and tunes. Get in before the lifts start spinning. Print your Winter season checklist. Season rentals at Ski Mart in Bellevue and Tacoma.
XEVO Optics. Save 50% use code: powderpoobah. Shop online, choose model, lens, and strap. Shipped from Washington.
Woolly Clothing. Shop local online — merino wool for ski days and everyday NW style. Save 20% use code: powderpoobah.

Health & Wellness

Alpine Physical Therapy. Our go-to PTs (they fixed up Larry)! PNW skiers and experts in outpatient orthopedic and neurological rehab and sports medicine.
Proliance Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine. Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond, and Seattle. Comprehensive care from injury to rehabilitation.

Food, Drink & Community

The Hall. Sports bar, family and dog friendly. Weekend Brunch in Kirkland, Sat & Sun. Great food, beer, people and community. Events list
Vertical Grind. Gift giving essentials, order now! Stock up with the gift of coffee for your Snow-Loving friends. Adventure inspired: First Ascent, Open Road, and Switchback. Shop local and support Powder People.

Travel, Safety & Resorts

AAA of Washington. There’s no “one size fits all” here. We offer different levels of membership. As a member have you ever browsed the Perks?
49 Degrees North. Buy your season pass. Details here . Plan your visit. Chewelah, WA. Read my trip notes here. An hour north of Spokane.
Crystal Mountain Resort. Check out Season passes and Day tickets. Rentals and lessons. Plan your trip. Mountain report and parking
Crystal Mountain Hotels. Stay slopeside in one of their three hotels, an easy walk to the gondola. Includes parking. Dog-friendly.
Silver Mountain Resort. Do you know about the Water Park? Check out their deals, pass perks, and trail maps. Kellogg, Idaho . Save on winter lodging.

Warmth & Essentials

IGNIK Outdoors. New RIPPLES rechargeable hand warmers. Put these next to your heated socks and vest. Save 25% code: POWDER25. Cool propane camp stoves.

Larry's Field report – Whistler, B.C.

(Dec 1-12)

Larry's 10 days skiing Whistler.

Pat Ferris is there now. "After a week of poor to mediocre conditions, Wednesday was a really nice pow day with good quality snow. Super nice at the top. Temps cooling and lots of snow coming." Seattle Pat, from Seattle Ski and Snowboard Meetup

Read Larry's Field Report