Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

A surface low sliding up the PNW coastline with a comma-shaped associated upper-level cloud signature continues to spread a band of well-organized rain and snow northward on Saturday afternoon. This feature should keep the mostly light precipitation going Saturday evening for northern Washington State before tapering off overnight.

Hot on the heels of the first system, an offshore low spreads another warm frontal system northward. Light to moderate rain and snow along with moderate S winds aloft and E low-level flow should pick up in the early morning hours for Mt. Hood and shifts northward. The front should reach the Canadian border during the afternoon. After a brief potential break, the trailing cold front could pick up the precipitation again in the afternoon as it rotates through the region. Winds shift from the S or SE to the SSW by the end of the day. The volcanoes, southern Olympics, and E slopes of the Cascades continue to squeeze the most moisture out of this flow pattern. Snow levels should hover around 2500-3500 ft for the mountains of Washington State with the warmest temperatures likely early Sunday. Mt. Hood can expect a slight cooling trend with snow levels dropping to 3000 ft.

The offshore low exits into British Columbia with light rain and snow shower activity tapering Sunday night as temperatures continue to cool. On Monday we're expecting a complex formation of offshore low centers to spread the heaviest precipitation into California, but some of this moisture will spread from south to north into our region during the day. Temperatures should warm once again as this moisture lifts northward.

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 Decreasing light rain or snow in the evening, then becoming cloudy.
Sunday Light rain and snow (Hurricane Ridge), moderate southern part.
Saturday Night Decreasing light rain and snow in the evening.
Sunday Moderate rain and snow, heaviest from late morning onward.
Saturday Night Light rain or snow ends during the evening hours, then remains mostly cloudy.
Sunday Light rain and snow at times, mainly from mid-morning onward.
Saturday Night Light and snow ending during the early evening hours, then becoming mostly cloudy. Light rain and snow developing in the early morning hours.
Sunday Light rain and snow (moderate at Paradise) early in the day, then rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night A chance of snow flurries in the early evening, then mostly cloudy. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of light rain or snow. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night A chance of snow flurries or drizzle in the early evening, then mostly cloudy. Increasing moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Sunday Periods of light rain or snow. Decreasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Decreasing light snow, heaviest in the eastern mountains.
Sunday Increasing light snow.
Saturday Night Decreasing light rain and snow possibly ending overnight.
Sunday Periods of light to moderate rain and snow tapering to showers in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Very light rain or snow in the evening, then a chance of light rain/snow redeveloping in the early morning hours.
Sunday Periods of light to moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Night Periods of light rain and snow.
Sunday Increasing light to moderate rain and snow showers.

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023

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

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

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

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:17 PM PST Saturday, January 7, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Split flow should keep the region mostly dry with a ridge forming over the region Tuesday night. More active weather may return to the region with another warming trend starting sometime on Wednesday.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 3000' 2500' 3000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 3500' 3000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 3500' 4000' 3000' 2500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday * 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday * 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday 4000'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday * 2500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 7, 2023

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’.