Issued: 2:03 PM PST Friday, December 29, 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

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. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 4000' 4000' 4000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 5000' 5500' 5500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night 4000'
Monday * 4000'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday * 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night 3500'
Monday * 4500'
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday * 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night 5000'
Monday * 5500'
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Dec 29, 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’.