Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

The first in a series of winter storms is drawing to a close this afternoon. Storm totals vary widely from just a few inches to close to 20in at Mt Baker and Chinook Pass. Most sites near and west of the crest picked up a foot or more of new snow. Showers should continue to wind down this evening, lingering the longest near Mt Hood. Convergence bands will bring locally heavier precipitation to areas near Hwy 2 and I90 through the evening hours.

By Sunday morning, any leftover showers should quickly draw to a close. In fact, most places will start the day with some blue sky, sunshine, and maybe some low clouds/valley fog. A passing high-pressure ridge will help us briefly dry out and allow clouds to burn off. The exception will be Mt Hood, where windy and cloudy conditions should persist. 

The break will be short-lived. Clouds and winds increase in the afternoon ahead of our next much stronger storm system. A warm front will lift from the SW to NE Sunday night into Monday, bringing with it more precipitation. Snow levels start to creep up during the day. Places near Hurricane Ridge, Mt Hood, and Mt St Helens will likely feel the brunt of the warmer temperatures. For the Passes, easterly flow should help stave off the warmer air until sometime Monday night. 

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
Saturday Night Partly cloudy with a few stray showers possible.
Sunday Mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon. Moderate SW winds turning W.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with a few isolated showers possible.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning becoming cloudy. Moderate SSW winds.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with showers, mainly near a Puget Sound Convergence Zone.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning, with high clouds increasing in the afternoon. Light to moderate SW winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with showers in the evening. Becoming partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Light to moderate W winds.
Sunday Partly cloudy in the morning, with increasing high clouds during the day. Moderate wind SW winds be strong and gusty.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy with a few showers in the evening. A Puget Sound Convergence Zone may locally impact the area. Light W winds.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with sun breaks. Clouds increasing in the afternoon. SW winds becoming light to moderate.
Saturday Night Cloudy in the evening with a Puget Sound Convergence Zone bringing locally heavier precipitation to the area. Then drying. Light to moderate W winds.
Sunday Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with some clearing. Then increasing clouds later in the day. Moderate SW winds becoming strong and gusty.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with a few stray showers in the evening. W winds becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Partly cloudy to mostly sunny in the morning with clouds increasing. Light to moderate WSW winds decreasing slightly.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with showers heaviest near Salmon la Sac in the evening. Winds becoming W and moderate.
Sunday Partly cloudy to mostly sunny in the morning with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Moderate W winds.
Saturday Night Partly to mostly cloudy with a few snow showers possible. Moderate westerly winds.
Sunday Partly cloudy to mostly sunny in the morning with increasing clouds during the day. Moderate W winds becoming strong and gusty.
Saturday Night Cloudy with snow showers, could be moderate at times. Moderate W ridgeline winds with extreme alpine winds.
Sunday Mostly cloudy with a few sun breaks in the morning. Scattered showers possible throughout the day. W ridgeline winds becoming strong and gusty with extreme alpine winds.

Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Saturday Night Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Stevens Pass 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 0 LT 0.25 0.75
Crystal Mt 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.50
Paradise 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00
White Pass LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.50
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge 0 0 0 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.25 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 0 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0.75 LT 0.10 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline 0.75 LT 0.25 LT 0.25 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.75
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75 -1.00
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.75
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 0.75

Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 2000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 4500'
West North 1000' 0 0 1500' 500' 500' 1500' 2500'
West Central 1500' 500' 500' 2000' 500' 1000' 2000' 3000'
West South 1500' 1000' 500' 2500' 1000' 1500' 2500' 4000'
Stevens Pass 1500' 500' 500' 2000' 500' 1000' 2000' 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1000' 500' 2000' 500' 1000' 2000' 3000'
East North 500' 0 0 1500' 0 0 500' 2000'
East Central 1000' 500' 500' 2000' 500' 1000' 1000' 2000'
East South 1500' 1000' 500' 2500' 500' 1000' 2000' 3500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 2000' 2000' 3000' 5000'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 4500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 2500'
Monday Afternoon* 4000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening 500'
Saturday Night 0'
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening 1000'
Saturday Night 500'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening 1500'
Saturday Night 1000'
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening 2000'
Saturday Night 1500'
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 3000'
Sunday Evening 2000'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 3000'
Monday Afternoon* 5000'

Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 20 27 / 19
West North 25 / 18 26 / 19
West Central 28 / 20 27 / 20
West South 25 / 19 25 / 18
Stevens Pass 26 / 21 24 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 26 / 22 25 / 21
East North 18 / 13 17 / 11
East Central 28 / 19 24 / 18
East South 27 / 19 25 / 18
Mt. Hood 25 / 21 27 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 20
Sunday 27 / 19
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 18
Sunday 26 / 19
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 20
Sunday 27 / 20
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 19
Sunday 25 / 18
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 21
Sunday 24 / 20
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 26 / 22
Sunday 25 / 21
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 18 / 13
Sunday 17 / 11
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 28 / 19
Sunday 24 / 18
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 27 / 19
Sunday 25 / 18
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 25 / 21
Sunday 27 / 23

Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Saturday Evening Saturday Night Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon
Olympics W 0-10 SW 10-20 SW 15-25 W 15-25
West North SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25
West Central WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 10-20
West South W 10-20 W 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 20-30
Stevens Pass W 5-15 W 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 10-20 W 10-20 SW 15-25 WSW 20-30
East North W 5-15 W 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 5-15
East Central WNW 10-20 W 15-25 W 15-25 W 15-25
East South WNW 15-25 W 15-25 W 15-25 W 20-30
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 W 15-25 W 20-30 W 30-40
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 0-10
Saturday Night SW 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening SW 5-15
Saturday Night SW 5-15
Sunday Morning SSW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WSW 5-15
Saturday Night WSW 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon SW 20-30
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 5-15
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 10-20
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning SW 15-25
Sunday Afternoon WSW 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening W 5-15
Saturday Night W 10-20
Sunday Morning WSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 10-20
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 15-25
Sunday Afternoon W 20-30
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Saturday Evening WNW 15-25
Saturday Night W 15-25
Sunday Morning W 20-30
Sunday Afternoon W 30-40

Issued: 1:52 PM PST Saturday, January 6, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

We start the long-range forecast in the middle of a winter storm. The trailing cold front should pass through the region overnight, just before it does so, we'll see the highest snow levels, with rain reaching to 3500ft in the north and 5500ft in the south. Expect periods of moderate to heavy precipitation and stronger SW winds on both sides of the Cascade crest. After the front passes, a shift to westerly flow will combine with falling snow levels and lingering moisture to keep snow stacking up in the mountains. Post-frontal showers seem to be reinvigorated Tuesday as a short wave feature moves into the Pacific Northwest. Our cold and snowy pattern seems to continue well into the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday Tuesday Night Wednesday
West North 3500' 2000' 1500' 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 2500' 1500' 1500'
Mt. Hood 5500' 3500' 1500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 3500'
Tuesday 2000'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 4000'
Tuesday 2500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 5500'
Tuesday 3500'
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 6, 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’.