Issued: 1:49 PM PST Sunday, January 7, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

After a nice, generally quiet day on Sunday, a major multi-day winter storm will start to approach the area. High clouds this afternoon and evening herald its arrival. Most locations will stay dry overnight. A few light showers could slip into the Olympics, Mt Hood, and West South zones in the wee hours of the morning.  

The main band of precipitation should arrive just before sunrise. A warm front lifts from SW to NE across the region, bringing generally light to occasionally moderate snow and gradually warming temperatures. This first feature focuses on locations further south, like Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, and Mt Hood. Despite the warmer air mass, easterly flow will help keep the Passes cool and snow levels lower. By late afternoon/early evening, rain could start to push upwards of some trailhead elevations in Olympics and west slopes of the Cascades.

The rain-line peaks overnight during periods of moderate to heavy precipitation. A return to westerly flow in the Passes finally allows snow levels to rise rapidly. Expect rain at Snoqualmie and possibly even Stevens Pass. Snow levels peak around 3500ft in the north and 5500ft in the south. A colder air pool should hang on for locations along the east of the Cascade crest north of I90 creating a mostly snow event for the eastside mountains. 

The storm isn't done yet. A trailing cold front arrives early Tuesday morning with much stronger winds, heavier precipitation, and plummeting snow levels. Expect periods of heavy snowfall and blizzard-like conditions. Most locations will measure mid-elevation storm totals on Tuesday afternoon in feet rather than inches. 

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
Sunday Night Cloudy with very light precipitation developing after midnight. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Monday Cloudy with light snow and gradual warming. Moderate southwesterly winds increasing in the afternoon and turning more southerly.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with a few flurries possible in the very early morning hours. SW winds becoming light to moderate.
Monday Cloudy with generally light snowfall. Moderate SSW winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few light flurries possible in the very early morning hours.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow with gradual warming. SSW winds becoming moderate.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few light showers in the early morning. Winds becoming SW light to moderate.
Monday Light to moderate snow, heaviest on the volcanoes. Gradual warming. Winds turning SW and becoming moderate.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible after midnight. Light easterly flow developing at Pass level.
Monday Light snow. E flow keeps pass levels cooler with gradual higher elevation warming. Ridgeline winds turning SW and becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few light snow showers after midnight. Light easterly flow developing at Pass level. Ridgeline winds turning WSW and becoming light to moderate.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow. E flow keeps Pass level cooler with gradual warming higher in the terrain. Ridgeline winds turning SW and becoming moderate.
Sunday Night Increasing clouds overnight and becoming cloudy.
Monday Cloudy with occasional light snow showers. Winds turning SW and becoming light to moderate.
Sunday Night Becoming cloudy with a few flurries possible near the crest after midnight. Winds turning W and becoming moderate.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers, mainly near the crest. Moderate W winds.
Sunday Night Cloudy with a few flurries possible after midnight. Light to moderate westerly winds.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers and gradual warming. W winds increasing to moderate.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate WNW winds decreasing slightly.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow with gradual warming. Moderate W winds becoming strong and gusty.

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Night Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 0.25 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0 0.50 1.50 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass 0 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 1.00
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 0.75 -1.00
Paradise LT 0.10 0.75 -1.00 1.50 1.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass 0 LT 0.25 0.75 0.75
Mission Ridge 0 LT 0.10 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.75 -1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0 LT 0.25 0.50 - 0.75 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.25 1.00 1.00 1.00
Timberline 0.25 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 1.00 - 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.75 -1.00
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.75
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.10
Monday Night 0.25
Tuesday 0.25 - 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Tuesday 0.50
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday 1.00
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon* Monday Evening* Monday Night Tuesday Morning Tuesday Afternoon
Olympics 1500' 2000' 2000' 3000' 5000' 5500' 2500' 2000'
West North 1000' 1000' 1000' 2000' 3000' 3500' 2000' 2000'
West Central 1000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 3000' 4500' 2500' 2000'
West South 1000' 1000' 1500' 3500' 4000' 4500' 2500' 2000'
Stevens Pass 1000' 1000' 1000' 2500' 2500' 4000' 2500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 1000' 1000' 1500' 2500' 2500' 4500' 2500' 2000'
East North 500' 0 0 1500' 1500' 1500' 2000' 2000'
East Central 1000' 500' 500' 2000' 1500' 2500' 2000' 2000'
East South 1000' 1000' 1000' 3000' 3500' 4000' 2500' 2000'
Mt. Hood 1500' 1500' 1500' 3500' 5500' 5500' 3000' 2000'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 2000'
Monday Morning* 2000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Evening* 5000'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night 3500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 3000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
West South Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 4000'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 2500'
Monday Evening* 2500'
Monday Night 4500'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East North Elevation
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night 1500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 2000'
Monday Evening* 1500'
Monday Night 2500'
Tuesday Morning 2000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night* 1000'
Monday Morning* 1000'
Monday Afternoon* 3000'
Monday Evening* 3500'
Monday Night 4000'
Tuesday Morning 2500'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night* 1500'
Monday Morning* 1500'
Monday Afternoon* 3500'
Monday Evening* 5500'
Monday Night 5500'
Tuesday Morning 3000'
Tuesday Afternoon 2000'

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Night Monday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 26 / 21 31 / 26
West North 23 / 19 30 / 22
West Central 28 / 21 30 / 26
West South 24 / 17 31 / 20
Stevens Pass 22 / 18 28 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 25 / 19 28 / 21
East North 14 / 9 20 / 11
East Central 23 / 17 28 / 20
East South 21 / 16 30 / 23
Mt. Hood 25 / 23 31 / 24
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 26 / 21
Monday 31 / 26
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 19
Monday 30 / 22
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 28 / 21
Monday 30 / 26
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 24 / 17
Monday 31 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 22 / 18
Monday 28 / 19
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 19
Monday 28 / 21
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 14 / 9
Monday 20 / 11
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 23 / 17
Monday 28 / 20
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 21 / 16
Monday 30 / 23
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday Night 25 / 23
Monday 31 / 24

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics WSW 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 15-25 WSW 20-30
West North SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 15-25 SSW 15-25
West Central W 5-15 SW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25
West South W 5-15 SW 10-20 SSW 10-20 SW 15-25
Stevens Pass W 5-15 WSW 5-15 WSW 5-15 SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass W 5-15 WSW 10-20 WSW 10-20 SW 15-25
East North W 5-15 WSW 5-15 W 5-15 SW 10-20
East Central WNW 5-15 W 15-25 W 15-25 W 15-25
East South WNW 10-20 W 10-20 W 10-20 W 15-25
Mt. Hood WNW 15-25 W 10-20 W 15-25 W 25-35
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WSW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon WSW 20-30
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night SW 5-15
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 10-20
Monday Morning WSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 15-25
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening W 5-15
Sunday Night WSW 5-15
Monday Morning W 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 5-15
Sunday Night W 15-25
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 10-20
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Evening WNW 15-25
Sunday Night W 10-20
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 25-35

Extended Weather Synopsis

A multi-day winter storm continues to aim at the PNW. Northwesterly flow and lingering moisture should keep showers building in the mountains and the snow flying Tuesday night. A shortwave system approaches the region and helps reinvigorate the precipitation. That storm seems to be tracking a bit further south, which would keep the bulk of the energy focused near and south of I90. A very cold, unstable airmass moves into the Northwest behind these storms. This keeps the door open for additional snow shower activity during the remainder of the week. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Tuesday Night Wednesday Wednesday Night Thursday
West North 1500' 1000' 500' 0
Snoqualmie Pass 1500' 1500' 1000' 500'
Mt. Hood 2000' 1500' 1500' 1500'
West North Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1000'
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Night 1500'
Wednesday 1500'
Wednesday Night 1000'
Thursday 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Night 2000'
Wednesday 1500'
Wednesday Night 1500'
Thursday 1500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 7, 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’.