Dec 19, 2025 – Warm weather leaves the West with well‑below‑average snowpack, forcing Lake Tahoe lifts to run at limited capacity and prompting Utah’s Midway Ice Castles to be postponed indefinitely; Oregon’s Deschutes Basin records its slowest snow start since 1981, and officials warn that the thin snow threatens regional water supplies and wildfire risk [4][22].

Dec 20, 2025 – Heavy mountain snow falls across the Cascades ahead of Christmas, with Stevens Pass topping 18 inches and Snoqualmie Pass about 10 inches, while snow levels sit 2,000‑3,000 ft and travel on passes is expected to worsen through the weekend [21].

Dec 27, 2025 – Light snow drifts into low‑elevation Puget Sound areas, delivering up to 2 inches in Snohomish and King counties, but a Winter Weather Advisory warns that snow levels could drop to 2,500 ft and 6‑12 inches may fall on Cascade passes, making post‑Christmas travel “very difficult to impossible” [19][20].

Dec 31, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 – A high‑pressure ridge keeps western Washington dry on New Year’s Eve, a rare break from the typical rain, while forecasters expect the ridge to weaken Thursday, bringing showers and a rain‑snow mix to lowlands early in the new year [18].

Jan 6, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues winter‑storm warnings for Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana, forecasting up to 35 inches of snow and 45 mph gusts in the Cascades and urging motorists to delay travel and carry emergency supplies [2]; simultaneously a Winter Storm Warning targets the Cascades, projecting 2‑4 feet of snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph, with avalanche danger rising to “considerable” [17].

Jan 8, 2026 – A colder system drives snow levels down to about 500 ft overnight, creating the potential for spotty low‑land snow or rain‑snow mixes in western Washington, though accumulation remains minimal and the main impact is slick roads in the lowlands [16].

Jan 9, 2026 – A persistent ridge produces a western‑U.S. snow drought, slashing snowpack to record lows; Utah backcountry snowmobiling owner Brad Riesenberg says customers “cancel tours” and calls the season “among the worst winters,” while climatologist Erinanne Saffell notes Phoenix and Tucson record their hottest December, raising concerns for the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics [1].

Jan 15, 2026 – A ridge of high pressure extends the dry spell across western Washington, delivering record‑tying January warmth (Sea‑Tac 58°F) and keeping snow levels near 12,000 ft, with the next meaningful rain not expected until late next week [15].

Jan 24, 2026 – A Cold Weather Advisory blankets the Seattle metro, dropping temperatures to the low‑20s °F and warning of hypothermia risk, while the region remains dry and sunny through the weekend [14].

Jan 27, 2026 – Seattle’s 14‑day rainless streak sits one day shy of the 1963 record; meteorologists forecast light rain Tuesday night that will end the dry spell, but the warm southwest moisture threatens to melt the already‑thin snowpack, with snow levels expected to fall to ~4,000 ft on Wednesday [13].

Jan 29, 2026 – Despite recent snowfall, Cascade snowpack stays far below normal; Stevens Pass adds only 2‑3 inches, Snoqualmie Pass 1‑2 inches, and Oregon’s statewide snowpack ranks second‑lowest since 1981, leaving central and southern Cascades with deep deficits that jeopardize spring streamflow [12].

Feb 4, 2026 – Skiers at Snoqualmie Pass describe “spring‑like” conditions with slushy surfaces and exposed rock, noting that regional snowpack sits under 50 % of normal; Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley says NASA imagery labels the January snowpack “a thin winter coat,” while snowboarder Jeremy Sampson points out empty lifts but heightened avalanche risk [11].

Feb 17, 2026 – Forecasts call for low‑elevation snow on Wednesday as snow levels hover 500‑1,000 ft, with a rain‑snow mix possible from the Kitsap Peninsula to coastal foothills; meteorologist Rich Marriott warns of slick roads during precipitation breaks, though anchor Parella Lewis expects limited overall impact [10].

Feb 18, 2026 – Washington’s snowpack averages roughly 65 % of normal, with 3,000‑5,000 ft elevations at only 40 % of typical depth, echoing dry winters of 1976‑77, 1980‑81 and 2014‑15; a weak La Niña shifts toward neutral, giving a 50‑60 % chance of a weak El Niño next winter, which could alter future snowpack trends [9].

Feb 19, 2026 – Spotty low‑land snow hits Snohomish, King and Pierce counties, prompting a two‑hour school delay in Granite Falls and a cancellation in neighboring districts, while snow levels remain between 500‑1,000 ft and accumulation stays minimal [8].

Feb 22, 2026 – A series of storm systems batter western Washington with rain, mountain snow and gusty winds; a Wind Advisory for Snohomish, King and Pierce foothills warns of 45 mph gusts, a Winter Weather Advisory places the Cascades under snow from 3,000‑3,500 ft with 5‑12 inches expected, and snow levels are projected to fall to 2,500 ft by Wednesday, setting up continued hazardous travel through the week [5][6][7].