Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 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

It's a pleasant day to be outside with mountain temps in the mid 20s to mid 30s under mostly sunny skies and a few high clouds floating down from the north. That will begin to change overnight as a fast moving Pacific frontal system approaches the coast. The arrival of this system seems to have been pushed back by a few hours. Even with relatively mild temperatures continuing Friday night and into the morning hours, snow levels will quickly fall to 2000-3000' with the onset of precipitation.  

The front will pass through the Olympics and north Cascades before noon, and the south Cascades and Mt Hood in the early afternoon. Prior to the frontal passage, the south slopes of the Olympics and the Mt Baker area will see the strongest southerly winds. After the frontal passage, strong westerly ridgeline winds will be commonplace in all except the northern Cascades. Strong to extreme westerly winds will continue Saturday night for the same areas. Post-frontal snow showers should continue to add a few more inches Saturday night, especially along the west slopes of the Cascades, but forecast guidance is continuing to show a range of solutions regarding where and how long a Puget Sound Convergence zone might linger overnight.

Sunday will be a cold day with diminishing winds and showers. The east slopes of the Cascades should see some sun while the west slopes will likely see sunbreaks but not a full clearing in the afternoon. 

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 Mostly clear in the evening, becoming cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Stormy with light snow developing and becoming moderate by late morning. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. Strong to extreme winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Stormy with light snow developing and becoming moderate to heavy by late morning. Moderate snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Light snow developing and becoming moderate by late morning. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow late morning and becoming moderate mid-day. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. Strong winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow late morning and becoming moderate mid-day. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. West winds increasing and becoming strong at Pass level and ridgeline in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow late morning and becoming moderate mid-day. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers in the afternoon. West winds increasing and becoming strong at Pass level and ridgeline in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow developing late morning and becoming light to occasionally moderate snow showers late. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy after midnight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow developing late morning and becoming light to occasionally moderate snow showers late, heaviest near the Cascade crest. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy late tonight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow developing mid-day and becoming light to occasionally moderate snow showers late, heaviest near the Cascade crest.Strong to extreme ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly clear in the evening, becoming mostly cloudy late tonight with increasing high clouds.
Saturday Cloudy in the morning. Light snow developing mid-day and becoming light to occasionally moderate snow showers late. Strong to extreme ridgeline winds in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 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 0.25 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0.75 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 - 0.75 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
White Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.25 0.25 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.75
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Sunday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday 0.25 - 0.50
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2023

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics 5000' 5000' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000'
West North 3000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West Central 3000' 3500' 2500' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West South 3000' 3500' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Stevens Pass 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 4000' 3500' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
East North 3000' 1500' 1500' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East Central 3000' 1500' 2000' 2000' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East South 3000' 2000' 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 2000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 6000' 5500' 3000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 5000'
Friday Night* 5000'
Saturday Morning* 3000'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 3000'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 3500'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 3500'
Saturday Morning* 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2500'
Saturday Morning* 2500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 4000'
Friday Night* 4000'
Saturday Morning* 3500'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2000'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 3000'
Friday Night* 2000'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon 2500'
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 5000'
Friday Night* 6000'
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon 3000'
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2023

5000' Temperatures (°F)

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

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2023

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics NW 0-10 SW 5-15 S 20-30 W 30-40
West North W 0-10 SW 5-15 S 20-30 SW 20-30
West Central W 0-10 SW 0-10 S 15-25 WSW 20-30
West South WNW 0-10 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25 W 25-35
Stevens Pass WNW 0-10 W 0-10 SW 5-15 W 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass WNW 0-10 W 0-10 SW 10-20 W 30-40
East North WNW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 15-25
East Central WNW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 30-40
East South WNW 0-10 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 WSW 25-35
Mt. Hood SW 0-10 SW 5-15 WSW 15-25 WSW 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening NW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning S 20-30
Saturday Afternoon W 30-40
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening W 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning S 20-30
Saturday Afternoon SW 20-30
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening W 0-10
Friday Night SW 0-10
Saturday Morning S 15-25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 20-30
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning SSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon W 25-35
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 0-10
Friday Night W 0-10
Saturday Morning SW 5-15
Saturday Afternoon W 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 0-10
Friday Night W 0-10
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon W 30-40
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 5-15
Friday Night WSW 5-15
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 15-25
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 30-40
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WNW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning SW 10-20
Saturday Afternoon WSW 25-35
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SW 0-10
Friday Night SW 5-15
Saturday Morning WSW 15-25
Saturday Afternoon WSW 30-40

Issued: 2:12 PM PST Friday, January 20, 2023

Extended Weather Synopsis

A ridge of high pressure will begin to set up offshore. However, storm systems on a northerly track and steering into British Columbia will flatten the ridge enough to let periods of light precipitation and cloud cover into the northern portion of Washington State. There will also be a N-S temperature gradient in this pattern with milder temperatures and more sunshine to the south. We could be in for a dry stretch after Tuesday if the ridge rebuilds along our coast. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
West North 1500' 3000' 2500' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 3500' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 5500' 5000' 4500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday 3000'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 1500'
Monday 3500'
Monday Night 3000'
Tuesday 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 2000'
Monday 5500'
Monday Night 5000'
Tuesday 4500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 20, 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’.