Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

We're entering a transitional pattern that should finally usher in that cold and stormy pattern we've all been dreaming about by late in the workweek.

In the meantime, we have a weak trough heading toward the Pacific Northwest Coastline. The brunt of the trough's energy splits southward toward California. Out ahead of the trough, a weakening frontal boundary spans from the Olympics to Mt Hood on Tuesday afternoon. The associated light to locally moderate rain and snow continues to lift ENE peaking over the Cascades during the evening hours before it largely dissipates overnight. S or SE ridgeline winds accompany the front, along with low-level E flow maintaining snow down to Snoqualmie Pass level and slightly enhancing snowfall amounts for the east slopes of the Cascades. Areas west of the Cascade Crest should see some gradual cooling with snow levels in the 3000-4500 ft range.

On Wednesday, the weak upper trough moves over the area. A weak wave of moisture lifts northward along the spine of the Cascades through the morning hours and could bring a few inches of upslope snowfall to parts of the east slopes of the Cascades. Late in day the day through the evening hours, another wave of  lifts NE across the region with some light rain and snow. Temperatures equilibrate somewhat across the Cascades by the time this moves through as E flow relaxes and slightly cooler air moves into the Puget Sound region, bringing snow levels down to around 3000 ft in most areas.

On Thursday, a weak front rounds the top of a weak ridge, ushering the start of a progressive weather pattern.  Light rain and snow reach the Olympics in the morning and the Cascades during the afternoon hours. Snow levels remain around 3000-3500 ft.

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
Tuesday Night Light rain and snow mostly end during the early evening hours, then a chance of sprinkles or snow flurries. Moderate ridgeline winds become light.
Wednesday Isolated rain and snow showers. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Light rain and snow tapers in the early morning hours. Light to moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Light rain and snow mainly during the evening hours. Light ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Cloudy with periods of light rain and snow. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Cloudy with light rain and snow very early in the day. Showers may return late in the day. Light ridgelien winds.
Tuesday Night Periods of light rain and snow. Decreasing light ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Wednesday Occasional periods of light rain or snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Decreasing periods of light rain and snow. Light to moderate ridgeline winds become light. Light E flow at the Pass.
Wednesday Periods of light rain or snow. Light ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Tuesday Night Periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Occasional light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Occasional light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Periods of light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Wednesday Occasional light snow. Light ridgeline winds.
Tuesday Night Periods of light to occasionally moderate rain and snow. Moderate ridgeline winds decrease.
Wednesday Periods of light rain or snow. Light ridgeline winds may become moderate in the afternoon.

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
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 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Timberline LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.25
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.10
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night 0
Thursday LT 0.10
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.10
Thursday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Wednesday Night LT 0.25
Thursday 0.25

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Evening* Tuesday Night* Wednesday Morning* Wednesday Afternoon* Wednesday Evening* Wednesday Night Thursday Morning Thursday Afternoon
Olympics 4500' 4500' 4000' 4000' 4000' 3500' 3500' 4000'
West North 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000'
West Central 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3000'
West South 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Stevens Pass 2000' 2000' 2000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass 2500' 2500' 2500' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000' 3000'
East North 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000'
East Central 2000' 1500' 2000' 3000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3000'
East South 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500' 3000' 2500' 3000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 3000' 3500'
Olympics Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 4500'
Tuesday Night* 4500'
Wednesday Morning* 4000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 4000'
Wednesday Evening* 4000'
Wednesday Night 3500'
Thursday Morning 3500'
Thursday Afternoon 4000'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
West Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
West South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening* 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2500'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening* 3000'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East North Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 1500'
Tuesday Night* 1000'
Wednesday Morning* 1500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening* 3000'
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday Morning 2000'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East Central Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday Morning* 2000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3000'
Wednesday Evening* 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 2500'
Thursday Afternoon 3000'
East South Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 2500'
Tuesday Night* 2000'
Wednesday Morning* 2500'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 3000'
Wednesday Night 2500'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Evening* 3500'
Tuesday Night* 3000'
Wednesday Morning* 3000'
Wednesday Afternoon* 3500'
Wednesday Evening* 3500'
Wednesday Night 3000'
Thursday Morning 3000'
Thursday Afternoon 3500'

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Tuesday Night Wednesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 31 31 / 29
West North 31 / 29 31 / 29
West Central 31 / 29 31 / 28
West South 32 / 29 32 / 28
Stevens Pass 27 / 25 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 27 31 / 26
East North 26 / 22 30 / 22
East Central 28 / 26 32 / 25
East South 30 / 27 32 / 27
Mt. Hood 32 / 28 33 / 25
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 31
Wednesday 31 / 29
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 29
Wednesday 31 / 29
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 31 / 29
Wednesday 31 / 28
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 29
Wednesday 32 / 28
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 27 / 25
Wednesday 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 27
Wednesday 31 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 26 / 22
Wednesday 30 / 22
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 28 / 26
Wednesday 32 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 30 / 27
Wednesday 32 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Tuesday Night 32 / 28
Wednesday 33 / 25

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Tuesday Evening Tuesday Night Wednesday Morning Wednesday Afternoon
Olympics S 10-20 S 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15
West North SSE 10-20 S 10-20 S 5-15 S 5-15
West Central SE 10-20 SE 0-10 SE 0-10 SW 0-10
West South SSE 5-15 SSE 0-10 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10
Stevens Pass SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 0-10 W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 5-15 ESE 0-10 SSE 0-10
East North SE 5-15 SSW 0-10 SSE 0-10 SW 0-10
East Central S 5-15 S 5-15 S 0-10 WSW 0-10
East South SSE 5-15 SSE 5-15 SW 0-10 WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood S 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 WSW 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 10-20
Tuesday Night S 10-20
Wednesday Morning S 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 10-20
Tuesday Night S 10-20
Wednesday Morning S 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon S 5-15
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 10-20
Tuesday Night SE 0-10
Wednesday Morning SE 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0-10
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 5-15
Tuesday Night SSE 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSW 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0-10
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night SE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SE 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon W 0-10
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening ESE 10-20
Tuesday Night ESE 5-15
Wednesday Morning ESE 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SSE 0-10
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SE 5-15
Tuesday Night SSW 0-10
Wednesday Morning SSE 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon SW 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 5-15
Tuesday Night S 5-15
Wednesday Morning S 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening SSE 5-15
Tuesday Night SSE 5-15
Wednesday Morning SW 0-10
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Tuesday Evening S 10-20
Tuesday Night SSW 10-20
Wednesday Morning SW 5-15
Wednesday Afternoon WSW 15-25

Issued: 2:06 PM PST Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Very active weather develops as we head into the weekend. Light snow showers continue on WNW flow behind the front Thursday night with some reinforcement and cooling from a secondary front maintaining the snowfall on Friday. A stronger and colder frontal system brings moderate to heavy snowfall late Friday night and early Saturday with drying from north to south late in the day and temperatures dropping below normal.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Thursday Night Friday Friday Night Saturday
West North 2500' 2000' 2000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 3000' 2000' 2500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 4000' 2500' 3000' 3000'
West North Elevation
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 2000'
Friday Night 2000'
Saturday 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Thursday Night 3000'
Friday 2000'
Friday Night 2500'
Saturday 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Thursday Night 4000'
Friday 2500'
Friday Night 3000'
Saturday 3000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 2, 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’.