A weak Pacific frontal system continues to rotate up bands of precipitation from south to north over the area. Some drops can be seen on the Hurricane Ridge webcam with the Olympics located closer to the frontal boundary. Further west over the Cascades, there's likely some spotty precipitation but overall drier air at the lowest levels is keeping surface conditions dry along with some reports of virga. Almost all of the mountain weather stations are reporting above-freezing temperatures this afternoon.
SE-E winds continue to crank in several locations Friday afternoon with strong offshore flow. Winds will stay in the moderate to strong range through this evening, and start to ease off later Friday night. The weakening frontal band will push slowly through the area on Saturday. Cascade locations can expect cloud cover to increase overnight and for cloud bases to lower during the day on Saturday. Snow levels will come down with the onset of light precipitation, but only into the 5000-5500' range by sunset.
The trailing upper level trough will linger over the area Saturday night leaving some light and scattered showers through early Sunday morning. On Sunday a drying trend will begin as the trough slowly lifts out of the area. We may see more cloud cover linger over the northern Cascades with sunnier skies further south. Freezing levels will settle in the 4500-5500' range Sunday 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
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow, especially Paradise and Crystal areas. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow, or wintry mix. Moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds easing after midnight.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning. Light to moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds in the morning becoming light in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow, or wintry mix. Moderate E Pass level winds and strong SE ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning. Moderate SE ridgeline and Pass level winds in the morning becoming light in the afternoon
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a slight chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix in the morning, then light rain or snow in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a slight chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix in the morning, then light rain or snow in the afternoon. Moderate ridgeline winds in the morning easing in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with a slight chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday
Cloudy with a chance of light rain, snow or wintry mix in the morning, then light rain or snow in the afternoon.
Friday
Night
Cloudy with periods of light rain or snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds easing after midnight.
Saturday
Cloudy with occasional light rain or snow developing in the morning.
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 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
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
LT 0.10
0.25
LT 0.25
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
Stevens Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Snoqualmie Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Crystal Mt
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
Paradise
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
LT 0.25
0
White Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Washington Pass
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Mission Ridge
0
0
LT 0.10
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
0
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Mt Hood Meadows
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
LT 0.10
0
Timberline
LT 0.10
LT 0.25
LT 0.10
0
Hurricane Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Mt Baker Ski Area
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Stevens Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Snoqualmie Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Crystal Mt
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Paradise
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.25
Sunday
0
White Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Washington Pass
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Mission Ridge
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
0
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Tieton River - Darland Mt.
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
0
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Mt Hood Meadows
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.10
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Timberline
Precipitation (in)
Friday Night
LT 0.10
Saturday
LT 0.25
Saturday Night
LT 0.10
Sunday
0
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 2023
Snow Level (ft)
Friday
Evening*
Friday
Night*
Saturday
Morning*
Saturday
Afternoon
Saturday
Evening
Saturday
Night
Sunday
Morning
Sunday
Afternoon
Olympics
7000'
6500'
6500'
5500'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
West North
9000'
6000'
6000'
5500'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
West Central
8000'
6500'
6000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
West South
8000'
6500'
6500'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
Stevens Pass
8000'
6500'
6000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
9000'
6500'
6000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4000'
4500'
East North
5000'
4000'
5000'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4500'
5000'
East Central
7500'
7500'
6500'
5500'
5000'
4000'
4500'
5000'
East South
8000'
7000'
6500'
6000'
5000'
4000'
4500'
5000'
Mt. Hood
9500'
6500'
6500'
5000'
4500'
4000'
4500'
5500'
Olympics
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
7000'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
West North
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
9000'
Friday
Night*
6000'
Saturday
Morning*
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
West Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
8000'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
West South
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
8000'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
Stevens Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
8000'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
Snoqualmie Pass
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
9000'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4000'
Sunday
Afternoon
4500'
East North
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
5000'
Friday
Night*
4000'
Saturday
Morning*
5000'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
5000'
East Central
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
7500'
Friday
Night*
7500'
Saturday
Morning*
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5500'
Saturday
Evening
5000'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
5000'
East South
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
8000'
Friday
Night*
7000'
Saturday
Morning*
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
6000'
Saturday
Evening
5000'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
5000'
Mt. Hood
Elevation
Friday
Evening*
9500'
Friday
Night*
6500'
Saturday
Morning*
6500'
Saturday
Afternoon
5000'
Saturday
Evening
4500'
Saturday
Night
4000'
Sunday
Morning
4500'
Sunday
Afternoon
5500'
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 2023
5000' Temperatures (°F)
Friday
Night
Saturday
Max / Min
Max / Min
Olympics
37 / 35
35 / 32
West North
39 / 34
35 / 33
West Central
39 / 33
35 / 33
West South
38 / 35
35 / 32
Stevens Pass
37 / 32
37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass
35 / 33
35 / 33
East North
32 / 30
35 / 30
East Central
37 / 33
37 / 32
East South
34 / 31
37 / 31
Mt. Hood
39 / 34
35 / 32
Olympics
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 35
Saturday
35 / 32
West North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
39 / 34
Saturday
35 / 33
West Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
39 / 33
Saturday
35 / 33
West South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
38 / 35
Saturday
35 / 32
Stevens Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 32
Saturday
37 / 32
Snoqualmie Pass
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
35 / 33
Saturday
35 / 33
East North
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
32 / 30
Saturday
35 / 30
East Central
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
37 / 33
Saturday
37 / 32
East South
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
34 / 31
Saturday
37 / 31
Mt. Hood
5000' Temperature Forecast (Max / Min)
Friday
Night
39 / 34
Saturday
35 / 32
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 2023
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
Friday
Night
Saturday
Morning
Saturday
Afternoon
Olympics
S 15-25
S 10-20
S 10-20
S 10-20
West North
SSE 10-20
S 10-20
S 10-20
S 10-20
West Central
SE 15-25
SSE 10-20
SSW 5-15
SW 5-15
West South
SE 20-30
S 10-20
SSE 10-20
SW 10-20
Stevens Pass
SE 15-25
SE 10-20
SSE 5-15
WSW 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
SE 25-35
SE 10-20
SSE 5-15
WSW 10-20
East North
SE 20-30
S 10-20
S 10-20
SW 5-15
East Central
SE 20-30
S 10-20
S 10-20
WSW 5-15
East South
SE 15-25
S 10-20
S 5-15
WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood
S 20-30
SW 10-20
SW 5-15
WSW 10-20
Olympics
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
S
15-25
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
S
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SSE
10-20
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
S
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
S
10-20
West Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
15-25
Friday
Night
SSE
10-20
Saturday
Morning
SSW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
SW
5-15
West South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
20-30
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
SSE
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
SW
10-20
Stevens Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
15-25
Friday
Night
SE
10-20
Saturday
Morning
SSE
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
Snoqualmie Pass
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
25-35
Friday
Night
SE
10-20
Saturday
Morning
SSE
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
East North
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
20-30
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
S
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
SW
5-15
East Central
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
20-30
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
S
10-20
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
East South
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
SE
15-25
Friday
Night
S
10-20
Saturday
Morning
S
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
5-15
Mt. Hood
Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday
Evening
S
20-30
Friday
Night
SW
10-20
Saturday
Morning
SW
5-15
Saturday
Afternoon
WSW
10-20
Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 2023
Extended Weather Synopsis
To ring in the New Year, a shortwave upper level ridge will shift over the area leading to dry and at least partly sunny skies. The next weak frontal system will approach Monday night and bring the next round of increasing offshore flow and E-SE winds. Light precipitation will begin to move into the region on Tuesday during the day. Snow levels will be slightly lower than they've been in awhile, likely in the 3000-4000' range.
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).