Issued: 1:42 PM PST Saturday, January 9, 2021
by Dallas Glass

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Weather Synopsis

Radar and satellite imagery already shows our next weather system approaching the coast this afternoon. Mountain cameras and weather stations also indicate the increase in cloud cover and wind speeds ahead of the storm. Precipitation should arrive in the Olympics and Baker areas this evening with showers eventually spreading to other mountain locations around midnight. The weakening weather front appears to fizzle out as it makes its way inland limiting the amount of precipitation you may see in the mountains. With minimal water and poor dynamics, showers seem to struggle to make it past the Cascade crest to areas further east. For many locations, this storm will result in little more than a wind event accompanied by a few inches of snow. Hurricane Ridge, Mt Baker, areas near the Crest, and the Wenatchee Mountains could see strong and gusty winds, especially as the front swings through the region overnight and into the morning hours. 

Scattered showers should linger into Sunday morning for many locations. Drier air appears to seep into the region later in the day with showers tapering off from south to north. Locations further south and east may see periods of sunshine in the afternoon. 

The break in the action looks short-lived Sunday night. The jet stream begins to sag southward from the British Columbia coast into Washington bringing with it several rounds of precipitation and milder air. For the moment, the weather models disagree on the strength of this initial precipitation event for Monday. However, they generally agree that snowlevels rise with this wet storm. This sets the stage for an active weather pattern for the first part of the week. 

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
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong S to SW winds.
Sunday Cloudy with isolated showers. Moderate SW winds.
Saturday Night Rain and snow showers. Strong S winds.
Sunday Cloudy with rain and snow showers. Moderate to strong S winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with isolated showers. Moderate S winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers beginning around midnight. Moderate to strong winds near the crest.
Sunday Cloudy with isolated showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers beginning around midnight. Moderate SE winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered showers. Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. E winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers beginning around midnight. Moderate to strong SE winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered showers. Becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. E winds decreasing.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy. Isolated showers near the crest. Moderate SW winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy to cloudy. Isolated showers near the crest. Moderate SW winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy. Isolated showers especially near the crest. Moderate to strong SW winds
Sunday Cloud with isolated showers in the morning. Moderate SW winds. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy to cloudy. Isolated showers near the crest. Moderate SW winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the morning. Moderate W winds. Sun breaks in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Cloudy with scattered showers beginning around midnight. Moderate to strong SW winds.
Sunday Cloudy with scattered showers in the morning. Sun breaks possible in the afternoon. Moderate SW winds.

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Paradise LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Timberline LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.75
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 3500' 4000' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4500' 5000' 4000'
West North 2000' 3000' 3000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
West Central 2000' 2000' 2500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
West South 2500' 2500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 4500'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1500' 2500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2000' 2000' 2500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 4500'
East North 1500' 1000' 1500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East Central 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500'
East South 2500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 4000' 4500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 2500' 4500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 5500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 3000'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2000'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 3000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1000'
Sunday Morning* 1500'
Sunday Afternoon* 2500'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 1500'
Saturday Night* 1500'
Sunday Morning* 2000'
Sunday Afternoon* 3000'
Sunday Evening* 3000'
Sunday Night* 2500'
Monday Morning 2500'
Monday Afternoon 3500'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Sunday Evening* 4000'
Sunday Night* 3500'
Monday Morning 4000'
Monday Afternoon 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Sunday Evening* 5000'
Sunday Night* 5000'
Monday Morning 5000'
Monday Afternoon 5500'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 27 32 / 31
West North 30 / 27 31 / 28
West Central 29 / 26 31 / 28
West South 32 / 29 33 / 30
Stevens Pass 23 / 21 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 24 / 22 31 / 24
East North 22 / 19 29 / 22
East Central 23 / 20 32 / 23
East South 26 / 22 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 31 / 28 35 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 27
Sunday 32 / 31
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 27
Sunday 31 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 26
Sunday 31 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 32 / 29
Sunday 33 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 21
Sunday 32 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 24 / 22
Sunday 31 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 22 / 19
Sunday 29 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 23 / 20
Sunday 32 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 22
Sunday 34 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 28
Sunday 35 / 31

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics S 20-30 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 S 10-20
West North S 25-35 SSW 25-35 SSW 15-25 S 20-30
West Central S 15-25 SSW 15-25 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
West South S 15-25 SSW 20-30 SW 10-20 SW 5-15
Stevens Pass SE 10-20 S 10-20 WSW 10-20 WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SSE 15-25 SE 10-20 SW 10-20 WSW 5-15
East North S 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 15-25 WSW 10-20
East Central SW 20-30 SW 25-35 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20
East South SW 15-25 WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 20-30 SW 20-30 SW 15-25 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 20-30
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 25-35
Saturday Night SSW 25-35
Sunday Morning SSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon S 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night SSW 20-30
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 10-20
Saturday Night S 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SSE 15-25
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 10-20
Saturday Night SW 15-25
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 20-30
Saturday Night SW 25-35
Sunday Morning WSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 15-25
Saturday Night WSW 15-25
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon WSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 20-30
Saturday Night SW 20-30
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Extended Weather Synopsis

With the jet stream trained on the Pacific Northwest, we can expect active weather through the long term forecast period. Several waves of moisture appear to spin off a parent low-pressure system and make their way to our region. However, the weather models disagree about the timing and strength of each of these waves. Additionally, subtle shifts in the jet north or south could significantly impact the amount of precipitation we receive. Despite these uncertainties, it seems clear that we sit on the wrong (warm) side of the jet stream and will see relatively high snowlevels with the precipitation. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3000' 4500' 7000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 6500' 7500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 6500' 8000' 8500' 4000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday * 4500'
Tuesday Night 7000'
Wednesday 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday * 6500'
Tuesday Night 7500'
Wednesday 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 6500'
Tuesday * 8000'
Tuesday Night 8500'
Wednesday 4000'

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I Extended Weather

Previous forecast from Jan 9, 2021

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).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.