An upper-level shortwave has spread high-level clouds over the region this afternoon. There's a bit of clearing off the Washington coast behind the upper level feature as we wait for the slow roller frontal system that's pegged to reach Mt Hood and the Olympics by daybreak. Cool offshore flow will extend to Cascade crest level in the form of moderate to locally strong E-SE winds from about Stevens Pass down to Mt Hood this afternoon and overnight. Low clouds along the eastern flank of the Cascades along with SE winds should create light upslope snowfall along the east slopes of the Cascades and in the Cascade Passes overnight. Only light accumulations are expected overnight.
The front will lift through the Cascades just before mid-day with generally 0.15-0.50" of water expected across the region. While there will be a wind shift to westerlies behind the front in the afternoon, there shouldn't be too much snow level oscillation during the day. Showers will taper quickly as an upper-level ridge builds in during the afternoon. Weak convergence may impact the Stevens-Snoqualmie corridor into the early evening hours on Friday.
Strong upper-level ridging will build over the region Friday night and Saturday with dry conditions place. Strong offshore flow will keep conditions breezy in the Passes. Freezing levels will stay on the cool side region-wide except for the Olympics on Saturday.
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
Thursday
Night
Increasing clouds with light rain and snow developing after midnight. Strong winds after midnight.
Friday
Light rain and snow in the morning. Partly sunny with isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear, then increasing clouds after midnight.
Friday
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate in the morning. Cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear, then increasing clouds after midnight.
Friday
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate in the morning. Cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Mostly clear, then increasing clouds late in the evening. Strong winds after midnight.
Friday
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate in the morning. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and scattered light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with periods of light snow. Moderate to strong ESE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate in the morning. Cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level becoming moderate west winds mid-day.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with periods of light snow. Strong ESE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Friday
Light rain and snow, occasionally moderate in the morning. Cloudy with scattered light showers in the afternoon. Light to moderate east winds at Pass level becoming moderate west winds mid-day.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with periods of light snow.
Friday
Light rain and snow in the morning. Cloudy with isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with periods of light snow.
Friday
Light rain and snow in the morning. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with periods of light snow.
Friday
Light rain and snow in the morning. Partly sunny and isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Thursday
Night
Becoming cloudy with light rain and developing around midnight.
Friday
Light to moderate rain and snow in the morning. Mostly cloudy with sunbreaks and isolated light showers in the afternoon.
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Thursday, January 7, 2021
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
Friday
Friday Night
Saturday
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
4 pm - 4 am
4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.10
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
0
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10
0
Stevens Pass
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.10
0
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
0.50
LT 0.25
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.10
0
Paradise
LT 0.10
0.25 - 0.50
LT 0.10
0
White Pass
LT 0.10
0.25
0
0
Washington Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0
0
Mission Ridge
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.10
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.10
0.25
0
0
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.25
0.50
LT 0.10
0
Timberline
LT 0.25
0.50 - 0.75
LT 0.10
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.50
Friday Night
LT 0.25
Saturday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25 - 0.50
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.25
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.25
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0.25
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
0.50
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.25
Friday
0.50 - 0.75
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Thursday, January 7, 2021
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon*
Olympics
6000'
5500'
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
3000'
5500'
West North
5500'
4500'
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2500'
4000'
West Central
4000'
3500'
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2000'
3500'
West South
4000'
3500'
3500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2500'
3500'
Stevens Pass
2500'
2500'
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass
3000'
2500'
2500'
2500'
2000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
East North
3000'
2500'
2500'
3000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
East Central
2500'
2500'
2500'
3000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
East South
3000'
3000'
3000'
3000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
2000'
Mt. Hood
4500'
4000'
3500'
3000'
2500'
2000'
2000'
3000'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
6000'
Thursday
Night*
5500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
3000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
5500'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
5500'
Thursday
Night*
4500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
4000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3500'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2500'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
2500'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
2500'
Thursday
Night*
2500'
Friday
Morning*
2500'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3000'
Thursday
Night*
3000'
Friday
Morning*
3000'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening
2000'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
2000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
4000'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon
3000'
Friday
Evening
2500'
Friday
Night
2000'
Saturday
Morning*
2000'
Saturday
Afternoon*
3000'
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Thursday, January 7, 2021
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
32 / 27
27 / 23
West North
29 / 26
28 / 25
West Central
26 / 25
27 / 23
West South
31 / 28
29 / 23
Stevens Pass
26 / 25
28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass
27 / 25
27 / 24
East North
24 / 21
28 / 23
East Central
26 / 24
28 / 24
East South
27 / 25
29 / 22
Mt. Hood
30 / 28
29 / 24
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
32 / 27
Friday
27 / 23
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
29 / 26
Friday
28 / 25
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
26 / 25
Friday
27 / 23
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 28
Friday
29 / 23
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
26 / 25
Friday
28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
27 / 25
Friday
27 / 24
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
24 / 21
Friday
28 / 23
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
26 / 24
Friday
28 / 24
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
27 / 25
Friday
29 / 22
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
30 / 28
Friday
29 / 24
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Thursday, January 7, 2021
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
S 15-25
S 20-30
S 15-25
W 10-20
West North
SE 5-15
SE 10-20
S 10-20
SW 10-20
West Central
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
S 10-20
W 10-20
West South
SE 20-30
SE 20-30
SE 15-25
WNW 15-25
Stevens Pass
SE 15-25
SE 20-30
SE 10-20
W 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
SE 20-30
SE 20-30
SE 15-25
W 15-25
East North
S 10-20
S 15-25
S 10-20
WSW 10-20
East Central
SSE 10-20
SE 15-25
SE 10-20
W 20-30
East South
SE 10-20
SE 10-20
S 10-20
W 10-20
Mt. Hood
SE 15-25
S 15-25
SW 15-25
WNW 20-30
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
20-30
Friday
Morning
S
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
W
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
5-15
Thursday
Night
SE
10-20
Friday
Morning
S
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
SW
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
S
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
W
10-20
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
20-30
Thursday
Night
SE
20-30
Friday
Morning
SE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
WNW
15-25
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
20-30
Friday
Morning
SE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
W
10-20
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
20-30
Thursday
Night
SE
20-30
Friday
Morning
SE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
W
15-25
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
10-20
Thursday
Night
S
15-25
Friday
Morning
S
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SSE
10-20
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SE
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
W
20-30
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
10-20
Thursday
Night
SE
10-20
Friday
Morning
S
10-20
Friday
Afternoon
W
10-20
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
15-25
Friday
Morning
SW
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
WNW
20-30
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Thursday, January 7, 2021
Extended Weather Synopsis
The next frontal system to extend from the parent upper level low off the Aleutian Islands will pass through Saturday night and Sunday. This system also looks to be on the weaker side with decreasing precipitation amounts toward the Oregon border. Forecast models disagree on the timing of the next system, whether it's Monday or Tuesday but it looks wetter with the jet stream shifting slightly southward into our area.
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).