Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 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 strong southern branch of the jet stream takes the most active weather toward California in the short-term. However, a weakening upper-level low drifting NE toward the Washington Coastline will some light precipitation and a gradual cooling trend.

Saturday night, the low drifts off the Oregon coast with moisture wrapping around the low focusing on the E slopes of the Cascades. Moderate ridgeline winds (strong at times through the mountain gaps) should gradually ease. Snow levels drop toward 4000 ft as the trough brings in cooler air aloft.

The low moves to near the mouth of the Columbia River Sunday morning and drifts further up the coastline during the afternoon. As it does, winds shift from SE to SW as the day progresses. The SW flow should tap into renewed moisture with light to moderate rain/snow showers becoming more widespread from Mt. Rainier southward. Expect slightly cooler temperatures with 3500-4000 ft snow levels and a chance of weak afternoon instability (heavier bursts of precipitation) as the cooler air moves in aloft while warm air lingers at the surface.

Weak troughing remains over the area Sunday night with light to moderate rain showers shifting their focus gradually northward. Light rain and snow shower activity gradually decreases as the trough flattens on Monday. The east slopes could see a mostly sunny day.

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 Light rain and snow at times focusing on the SE Olympics.
Sunday Light rain and snow showers.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow by morning.
Sunday Periods of very light rain or snow.
Saturday Night Cloudy with a chance of light rain or snow in the early morning hours.
Sunday Periods of very light rain or snow.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow at times. Strong ridgeline winds possible near the Cascade Crest in the evening.
Sunday Periods of mostly light rain and snow.
Saturday Night Mostly dry in the evening, with light rain and snow developing overnight. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E winds at the Pass decreasing.
Sunday Very light rain or snow at times. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Mostly dry in the evening, with light rain and snow developing overnight. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E winds at the Pass decreasing.
Sunday Very light rain or snow at times. Light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Sunday Periods of light rain or snow.
Saturday Night Increasing light rain and snow.
Sunday Light rain and snow.
Saturday Night Increasing light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Sunday Light to occasionally moderate rain and snow.
Saturday Night Light rain and snow. Strong ridgeline wind gusts.
Sunday Increasing rain and snow becoming moderate.

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 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 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 0.25 0.75 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Timberline LT 0.10 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.75
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday 0.25

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 30 / 27 31 / 27
West North 31 / 29 33 / 28
West Central 30 / 29 32 / 28
West South 31 / 30 31 / 27
Stevens Pass 30 / 28 30 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 30 / 29 29 / 27
East North 29 / 29 30 / 28
East Central 30 / 29 29 / 27
East South 30 / 28 29 / 26
Mt. Hood 33 / 28 31 / 27
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 27
Sunday 31 / 27
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 29
Sunday 33 / 28
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 29
Sunday 32 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 31 / 30
Sunday 31 / 27
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 28
Sunday 30 / 27
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 29
Sunday 29 / 27
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 29 / 29
Sunday 30 / 28
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 29
Sunday 29 / 27
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 30 / 28
Sunday 29 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 33 / 28
Sunday 31 / 27

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 5-15 E 0-10
West North SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15 ESE 0-10
West Central ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
West South SE 15-25 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 SSE 5-15
Stevens Pass ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 20-30 ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 SE 15-25
East North ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 SE 5-15 SE 10-20
East Central ESE 15-25 ESE 10-20 SE 10-20 ESE 10-20
East South ESE 10-20 SSE 10-20 SE 10-20 SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood S 15-25 S 15-25 SSW 15-25 SW 20-30
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning ESE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon E 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 5-15
Saturday Night SE 5-15
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon ESE 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SE 15-25
Saturday Night SE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning ESE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 20-30
Saturday Night ESE 15-25
Sunday Morning ESE 20-30
Sunday Afternoon SE 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 10-20
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 15-25
Saturday Night ESE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon ESE 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening ESE 10-20
Saturday Night SSE 10-20
Sunday Morning SE 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSE 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening S 15-25
Saturday Night S 15-25
Sunday Morning SSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 20-30

Issued: 2:09 PM PST Saturday, January 14, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

Trapped low-level moisture maintains clouds for the west slopes of the Washington Cascades Monday night. A ridge just ahead of a more potent system maintains mostly dry weather on Tuesday as high clouds move in. A warm front arrives with increasing S winds and increasing moisture. A sharp cold front moves through Wednesday morning with moderate to heavy rain and snow. Winds shift to the WNW with post-frontal showers in the afternoon. Expect a good shot of snowfall with this system. Snow levels remain near seasonal norms (2500-3000 ft) throughout the extended forecast period.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2500' 2500' 2500'
Mt. Hood 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 2500'
Wednesday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 3000'
Tuesday Night 3000'
Wednesday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 14, 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’.