Winter weather on its way!

With Mission Ridge opening Chair 1 last Friday, the Washington resort joins Whistler as the only open areas so far. However, with storms pushing in this week, it won't be long now for snow to be hitting the hills.

A strong cold front will move in later today and tonight and drop freezing levels to 1,000 feet by Tuesday, A strong west to northwest flow will form on Tueday to bring some heavy snow to the mountains.  This is welcome news to skiers given the below average snowpack so far as many locations are at 25 - to 50 percent of normal snow.  However, by the end of the week that will change as another strong weather system moves in to bring more mountain snow.

Finally, from Tuesday through Friday of this week now levels will remain  close to 1,000 feet.

Snowfall amounts at 3,000 feet for the West Cascades.

Monday

Mt Baker Region: 4 to 6 inches

Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes:  3 to 5 inches

Paradise: (Mount Rainier): 3 to 5 inches

Tuesday

Mt Baker Region: 5 to 10 inches

Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes:  5 to 10 inches (more if convergence forms)

Paradise: (Mount Rainier): 4 to 7 inches

Wednesday

Mt Baker Region: 4 to 8 inches

Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes:  3 to 7 inches

Paradise: (Mount Rainier): 3 to 5 inches

Thursday

Mt Baker Region: 5 to 10 inches

Snoqualmie and Stevens Passes:  5 to 10 inches (more if convergence forms)

Paradise: (Mount Rainier): 4 to 7 inches

After the snow from this week there is a good chance that Chinook and Cayuse Passes will close for the season. Check with the WDOT about the status of Highway 20. http://wwww.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes

Much of this informatoin in this report was courtesy of Michael Fagin, Washington Online Weather, www.wowweather.com