Dec 21- Winter is here and resorts are opening.
- Andrea Hamilton
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Hello Skiers and Snowboarders,
Short Term Forecast - First day of Winter, 2026
Good news!! Mt. Baker Resort reported this morning 35" of snow over the last 48 hours and will open today.
Crystal opened on Friday, 12/19. Webcam view on 12/21
Open areas:
Please check websites before you go, some resorts have limited terrain open, and some restrictions apply.
Opening soon (based on conditions):
Silver Mountain Ski Resort open for tubing and gondola rides.
Stevens Pass (working with DOT regarding access via Hwy 2)
We are expecting continued cool conditions and snow levels to remain at 3000' or lower at times at least through Wednesday. The best chance of snow will be later on Monday and into early Tuesday as an area of low pressure moves inland. The first map reflects snowfall of 4 to 8" for the 24 hours ending Tuesday afternoon. The higher totals listed below will be for the mid-to-upper slopes and all of Mt. Baker.
Snow and Weather Summary
Monday: 2 to 4"
Tuesday: 2 to 4"
Wednesday: 1"
Extended Outlook Thursday, Dec. 25 to Saturday, Dec. 27
The cool pattern will continue, and we anticipate snow levels to remain close to 3000' over most of the period. The second map below shows weather conditions in the upper atmosphere (18,000'). There are two troughs of low pressure off our coast on Saturday, Dec. 27. This pattern will keep temperatures cool. Too difficult to discuss snow chances, as that will depend on the location of the two troughs of low pressure. The closer it moves towards us, the better the chances of snow are.
Our next update will be on Wednesday, Christmas Eve.
Michael Fagin
Meteorologist
Slopes - Elevation General Guidelines
Lower Slopes - Under 4000'
Mid-Slopes - 4000 to 5500'
Upper-Slopes - Above 5500'
P.S. Don’t miss:
Last minute gifts! Gift cards and order online.
Event: No Man's Land Film Fest in January.
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. Stop in for a gift card at Sturtevant's or Ski Mart in Bellevue and Tacoma. Daily boot fitting and tunes. 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.
Warmth & Essentials
IGNIK Outdoors. New RIPPLES rechargeable hand warmers. Put these next to your heated socks and vest. Save 25% code: POWDER25. Propane camp stoves.
Travel, Safety & Resorts
AAA of Washington. Everyone in the family should have this. There’s no “one size fits all” here. We offer different levels of membership. Browse 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.
Food, Drink & Community
The Hall. Gift cards- purchase online. In Kirkland, Queen Anne and Occidental Hall by Lumen Field. Sports bar, family and dog friendly. Weekend Brunch in Kirkland, Sat & Sun. Great food, beer, people and community.
Vertical Grind. Easy ordering from Amazon for your Snow-Loving friends. Adventure inspired: First Ascent, Open Road, and Switchback. Shop local and support Powder People.
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.
No Man's Land Film Festival - this January.
We’re excited to bring No Man’s Land Film Festival back to the area for a second year with a winter edition. This all-ages, family-friendly screening features inspiring adventure storytelling from bold women and gender-diverse athletes.
📍 Seattle — Jan 13 at REI
📍 Kirkland — Jan 20 at Moss Bay Hall
Thanks for reading.
Andrea
➡️ Powder Poobah Resources: NWAC, chains, goggle lens, and more.
Click below if you want a text message when the Powder Alert goes out.
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