Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

High clouds are advancing inland this afternoon ahead of a frontal system positioned offshore. Low clouds were an unwelcome New Year's Day guest along the east slopes of the Cascades and to a varying extent the Cascade Passes. Further east from the Cascade crest, the cloud deck was thicker and the Wentachees failed to pop out of the muck unlike peaks not too far to their west. As the front closes in we can expect offshore flow and SE ridgeline winds to increase overnight. Forecast models now suggest that we'll see light precipitation for most areas by tomorrow afternoon. That may start early tonight along the east slopes of the Cascades where an upslope component can squeeze out some light but persistent flakes. This won't be a major storm but we'll see a few inches through Wednesday morning along with the winds. Snow levels will remain higher on the west side of the Cascade crest through this Tuesday night. 

The first frontal feature will wash out Tuesday evening and the secondary feature will rotate up Tuesday night bringing another light round of precipitation. Skies and light showers look slow to clear on Wednesday with weak upper level troughing over the area but we will see E-SE winds begin to relax and snow levels should become more uniform across the area by Wednesday afternoon in the 3000-4000' range. 

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
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Areas of low clouds near and east of White Pass. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly to mostly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Moderate to occasionally strong E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Monday Night Cloudy. Moderate to occasionally strong SE ridgeline and E Pass level winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to strong E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Periods of light snow possible. Cloudy lower slopes and valleys.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Periods of light snow possible. Cloudy lower slopes and valleys. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light snow.Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Periods of light snow possible. Cloudy lower slopes and valleys.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light snow. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.
Monday Night Partly cloudy in the evening then cloudy after midnight. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Monday Night Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
White Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Timberline 0 LT 0.25 0.25 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.10
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0
Tuesday LT 0.25
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Monday Evening* Monday Night* Tuesday Morning* Tuesday Afternoon* Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon*
Olympics 5500' 6000' 5000' 4500' 3500' 4500' 4000' 3500'
West North 5000' 6000' 5000' 4000' 4500' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West Central 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
West South 4000' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 4000'
Stevens Pass 2500' 2000' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2500' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 3500'
East North 2000' 1500' 2000' 2500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 3500'
East Central 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 2000' 2000' 2500' 3500'
East South 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 3000' 4000'
Mt. Hood 5000' 4500' 4000' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 4000'
Olympics Elevation
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4500'
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday Morning* 5000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday Morning* 3500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
West Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 4500'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 4000'
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
West South Elevation
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night* 3000'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
East North Elevation
Monday Evening* 2000'
Monday Night* 1500'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
East Central Elevation
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night* 2000'
Tuesday Morning* 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 2500'
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night* 2500'
Tuesday Morning* 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3000'
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night* 4500'
Tuesday Morning* 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon* 3500'
Tuesday Evening* 3000'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 34 / 30 33 / 28
West North 34 / 29 33 / 29
West Central 31 / 26 30 / 27
West South 29 / 26 33 / 28
Stevens Pass 27 / 23 29 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 24 29 / 24
East North 23 / 20 27 / 21
East Central 25 / 22 29 / 23
East South 26 / 23 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 31 / 28 34 / 29
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 30
Tuesday 33 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 29
Tuesday 33 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 26
Tuesday 30 / 27
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 29 / 26
Tuesday 33 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 23
Tuesday 29 / 23
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 28 / 24
Tuesday 29 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 23 / 20
Tuesday 27 / 21
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 25 / 22
Tuesday 29 / 23
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 26 / 23
Tuesday 31 / 24
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 31 / 28
Tuesday 34 / 29

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Monday, January 1, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

We may see some light precipitation on Thursday with a more impactful storm for Friday.  The details have waffled over the last few days but confidence is increasing we'll have a weather system that promises to bring more than an inch or two towards the end of the work week. There's also increasing confidence that colder temperatures will move in for next weekend. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night* Friday
West North 2500' 3500' 3000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 3000' 3000' 2500'
Mt. Hood 3000' 3500' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday 3500'
Thursday Night* 3000'
Friday 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 3000'
Thursday Night* 3000'
Friday 2500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday 3500'
Thursday Night* 3500'
Friday 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 1, 2024

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’.