A storm passing well to our north continues to drag showers across the Olympics and West Slopes of the Cascades this afternoon. As the system finally exits this evening, we should see the bulk of these showers finally draw to a close. That doesn't mean we're going to dry out.
Another low pressure will shift into position off the coast. While most precipitation should stay well offshore, a few showers will likely wander over the Olympics and southern Cascades Thursday night and Friday. The more significant impact will come from increasing winds. Areas near Hurrican Ridge and Mt Baker could experience moderate to strong and gusty S winds. Closer to the crest, E-SE winds will increase through the Passes. Expect most locations to see moderate to strong winds for at least the next 24 hours.
With offshore flow and lingering low-level moisture in the Columbia River basin, a few light upslope showers may develop along the east slopes of the Cascades. Sadly, as temperatures rise, some of this moisture could fall as a wintery-mix or even rain at lower elevations.
The stalled cold front finally meanders inland on Saturday, bringing the best chance for precipitation in the forecast period. Snow levels slowly lower throughout the day as we see a modest shot of low-elevation rain and high-elevation snow.
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
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers. Light to moderate S winds increasing overnight.
Friday
Cloudy with a few isolated showers possible. Moderate S winds.
Thursday
Night
Becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few stray showers possible. Moderate S winds becoming strong and gusty.
Friday
Mostly cloudy to cloudy. A few sprinkles possible. Moderate SSE winds increasing and becoming gusty.
Thursday
Night
Becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles possible. Moderate SE winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy to cloudy with a few sprinkles possible. Moderate SE winds.
Thursday
Night
Mostly cloudy with a few showers possible. Moderate SE winds.
Friday
Cloudy with a few isolated showers. Moderate SE winds.
Thursday
Night
Becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles possible. Light easterly flow. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy to cloudy with isolated showers possible. Light to moderate easterly flow. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds.
Thursday
Night
Becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers possible. Light E flow. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds.
Friday
Becoming cloudy with a few isolated showers possible. Moderate E flow. Moderate ESE ridgeline winds increasing and becoming strong and gusty.
Thursday
Night
Partly cloudy with a few stray showers possible. Light upslope showers developing late in the night. Moderate S winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy to cloudy with light upslope showers possible. Moderate S winds turning SE.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy. Light upslope showers developing late in the night. Moderate S winds turning SSE.
Friday
Mostly cloudy to cloudy with light upslope showers possible. Moderate SSE winds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with light upslope showers possible. Moderate SSE winds increasing and becoming gusty.
Friday
Becoming cloudy with light upslope showers possible. Moderate to strong and gusty SSE winds.
Thursday
Night
Partly to mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers possible. Moderate S winds increasing and becoming SSE and gusty.
Friday
Becoming cloudy with a few isolated showers possible. Moderate SSE winds turning S and increasing.
Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 28, 2023
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
Friday
Friday Night
Saturday
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 0.10
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
0
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
0
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
Paradise
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
White Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
0
0
0
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.25
Timberline
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
0.25
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
0
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.10
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
0
Friday
0
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.25
Saturday
0.25
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Thursday Night
LT 0.10
Friday
LT 0.10
Friday Night
LT 0.25
Saturday
0.25
Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 28, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Thursday
Evening*
Thursday
Night*
Friday
Morning*
Friday
Afternoon*
Friday
Evening*
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
5500'
6500'
7000'
7500'
6500'
6000'
5500'
5000'
West North
4500'
4000'
5000'
6500'
6500'
5500'
5000'
5000'
West Central
4500'
5000'
5500'
6500'
6000'
5500'
5000'
5000'
West South
4500'
5000'
5000'
6500'
4500'
4500'
5500'
5500'
Stevens Pass
4000'
3500'
3500'
4500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
4500'
4500'
4000'
5500'
4500'
4500'
4500'
5500'
East North
3500'
3500'
3500'
4500'
3500'
3000'
3500'
4500'
East Central
3500'
3500'
3500'
4500'
3500'
3500'
4000'
5000'
East South
4500'
4500'
4000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
5000'
5000'
Mt. Hood
6500'
7000'
7000'
5500'
5000'
5500'
5500'
5500'
Olympics
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
5500'
Thursday
Night*
6500'
Friday
Morning*
7000'
Friday
Afternoon*
7500'
Friday
Evening*
6500'
Friday
Night*
6000'
Saturday
Morning*
5500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
West North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
4000'
Friday
Morning*
5000'
Friday
Afternoon*
6500'
Friday
Evening*
6500'
Friday
Night*
5500'
Saturday
Morning*
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
West Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
5000'
Friday
Morning*
5500'
Friday
Afternoon*
6500'
Friday
Evening*
6000'
Friday
Night*
5500'
Saturday
Morning*
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
West South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
5000'
Friday
Morning*
5000'
Friday
Afternoon*
6500'
Friday
Evening*
4500'
Friday
Night*
4500'
Saturday
Morning*
5500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4000'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
4500'
Friday
Evening*
3500'
Friday
Night*
3500'
Saturday
Morning*
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
4500'
Friday
Morning*
4000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
Friday
Evening*
4500'
Friday
Night*
4500'
Saturday
Morning*
4500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
East North
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
4500'
Friday
Evening*
3500'
Friday
Night*
3000'
Saturday
Morning*
3500'
Saturday
Afternoon
4500'
East Central
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
3500'
Thursday
Night*
3500'
Friday
Morning*
3500'
Friday
Afternoon*
4500'
Friday
Evening*
3500'
Friday
Night*
3500'
Saturday
Morning*
4000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
East South
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
4500'
Thursday
Night*
4500'
Friday
Morning*
4000'
Friday
Afternoon*
4500'
Friday
Evening*
4000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning*
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Thursday
Evening*
6500'
Thursday
Night*
7000'
Friday
Morning*
7000'
Friday
Afternoon*
5500'
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
5500'
Saturday
Morning*
5500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 28, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Thursday
Night
Friday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
36 / 32
40 / 33
West North
35 / 32
40 / 32
West Central
36 / 33
37 / 33
West South
38 / 32
39 / 33
Stevens Pass
34 / 30
36 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass
35 / 31
37 / 32
East North
31 / 27
35 / 29
East Central
36 / 30
38 / 31
East South
36 / 32
37 / 32
Mt. Hood
38 / 34
41 / 34
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 32
Friday
40 / 33
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
35 / 32
Friday
40 / 32
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 33
Friday
37 / 33
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
38 / 32
Friday
39 / 33
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
34 / 30
Friday
36 / 31
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
35 / 31
Friday
37 / 32
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
31 / 27
Friday
35 / 29
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 30
Friday
38 / 31
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
36 / 32
Friday
37 / 32
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Thursday
Night
38 / 34
Friday
41 / 34
Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 28, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
Thursday
Night
Friday
Morning
Friday
Afternoon
Olympics
S 10-20
S 15-25
S 15-25
S 15-25
West North
S 15-25
S 20-30
SSE 15-25
SSE 20-30
West Central
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
West South
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
SE 15-25
Stevens Pass
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
ESE 15-25
ESE 20-30
East North
S 15-25
S 15-25
S 15-25
SE 15-25
East Central
S 15-25
SSE 15-25
SSE 15-25
SSE 15-25
East South
S 15-25
SSE 20-30
SSE 20-30
SSE 20-30
Mt. Hood
S 15-25
SSE 20-30
SSE 15-25
S 20-30
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
10-20
Thursday
Night
S
15-25
Friday
Morning
S
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
S
15-25
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
20-30
Friday
Morning
SSE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
20-30
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
SE
15-25
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
SE
15-25
Thursday
Night
SE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
SE
15-25
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
ESE
15-25
Thursday
Night
ESE
15-25
Friday
Morning
ESE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
ESE
15-25
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
ESE
15-25
Thursday
Night
ESE
15-25
Friday
Morning
ESE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
ESE
20-30
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
S
15-25
Friday
Morning
S
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
SE
15-25
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
SSE
15-25
Friday
Morning
SSE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
15-25
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
SSE
20-30
Friday
Morning
SSE
20-30
Friday
Afternoon
SSE
20-30
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Thursday
Evening
S
15-25
Thursday
Night
SSE
20-30
Friday
Morning
SSE
15-25
Friday
Afternoon
S
20-30
Issued: 1:50 PM PST Thursday, December 28, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
Cold air finally arrives in full Saturday night, but snow levels only bottom out between 4000 and 5000 ft. Showers should slowly taper off, and we start to dry out by Sunday morning. At that point, the question becomes, "when will the sun make an appearance?" Skies should start to break in the afternoon, with periods of sunshine. However, pesky high clouds seem to persist well into Monday, and should keep us from fully breaking out of the clouds.
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).