Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

630 PM Update: Lowered snow levels slightly for tonight along the west slopes of the Cascades, Mt Hood and Cascade Passes. 

The atmospheric river that's been plaguing our region for the last few days will finally shift inland tonight with another round of generally light to moderate precipitation across the area. The deep low pressure system that's been steering all of this wet weather our way will meander closer to the Oregon coast on Saturday. This will increase offshore pressure gradients and offshore winds, leading to moderate to strong SE winds by Saturday afternoon. While areas north of Hwy 2 along the west slopes of the Cascades may see some sunbreaks tomorrow afternoon, light rain/snow will begin falling along the east slopes of the Cascades, Passes and Mt Hood. 

That pattern will continue as a shortwave trough ejects north Saturday night and Sunday, leading to more widespread precipitation along the east slopes of the Cascades.  The heaviest precipitation will be reserved for the south Washington Cascades and Mt Hood. Snow levels will begin to gradually cool starting tonight but settle in the 4000-5000' range Sunday. There's high uncertainty regarding how the Saturday night to Sunday system will play out. 

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
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers.Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then partly sunny in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers. Moderate Pass level and ridgeline E-SE winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow showers. Light E winds at Pass level.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers. Moderate to strong Pass level and ridgeline E-SE winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers.Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with light rain or snow developing mid-day. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers.Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with light rain or snow developing in the morning. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Light to moderate rain and snow showers.Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers in the morning, then light to occasionally moderate rain and snow in the afternoon. Strong ridgeline winds in the afternoon.

Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023

Precipitation (in)

Friday Night Saturday Saturday Night Sunday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.75 -1.00 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Paradise 0.50 - 0.75 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.75 -1.00
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4500' 4500'
West North 5500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 5000' 4500' 4000' 4500'
West Central 5500' 4500' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4500' 4000' 4500'
West South 5500' 5000' 5000' 5500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 5000' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 5500' 5500' 5000' 5500' 4500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East North 5000' 4500' 5000' 5000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East Central 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
East South 5500' 5000' 5000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 4000'
Mt. Hood 5500' 5500' 5500' 5500' 5000' 4000' 4000' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 4500'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening 5000'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 4500'
Saturday Evening* 4000'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5000'
Saturday Morning* 5000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening 5500'
Friday Night 5500'
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 5000'
Saturday Night* 4000'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'

Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 30 33 / 30
West North 34 / 31 33 / 30
West Central 33 / 31 32 / 29
West South 33 / 30 34 / 30
Stevens Pass 32 / 31 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 31 32 / 30
East North 31 / 29 30 / 27
East Central 33 / 30 33 / 28
East South 33 / 30 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 34 / 31 33 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 34 / 30
Saturday 33 / 30
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 34 / 31
Saturday 33 / 30
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 31
Saturday 32 / 29
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 30
Saturday 34 / 30
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 32 / 31
Saturday 32 / 30
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 31
Saturday 32 / 30
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 31 / 29
Saturday 30 / 27
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 30
Saturday 33 / 28
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 30
Saturday 32 / 29
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 34 / 31
Saturday 33 / 31

Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 6:39 PM PST Friday, January 13, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

The low pressure system will finally lift NE across the area Sunday night with more widespread showers, possibly heavier in the Mt Baker area, that last through at least the first half of Monday. Snow levels will lower another notch during this stretch. 

We could see a brief break in the action Tuesday as a shortwave ridge tries to build over the area.  However, this is a progressive wet pattern and we shouldn't expect dry weather to last any longer than 12-24 hrs heading into next week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

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

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

Previous forecast from Jan 13, 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’.