Issued: 6:58 AM PST Monday, January 8, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

We're in for a very stormy 36hrs including blizzard-like conditions, very strong and gusty winds, rising snow levels, and periods of heavy precipitation.

A multi-day winter storm is on our doorstep this morning. A warm front will move SW to NE and bring generally light snow to the mountains. This first feature focuses further south, with locations near Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and Mt Rainier receiving more precipitation. Snow levels gradually rise along the west slopes of the Cascades in the afternoon as warmer air nudges into the southern part of our forecast region. 

Overnight, the storm ratchets up several notches. Warm air shoves its way north and east. Initially, easterly flow should help keep the Passes as all snow. However, as higher elevations start to warm, you could see freezing rain, particularly at Snoqualmie Pass. Eventually, the westerly flow should win and bring rain to above pass level at Snoqualmie and possibly Stevens/White Passes. Higher snow levels also move in along the eastside of the cascades south of I90. Snow levels peak overnight around 3500ft in the north and 5500ft in the south. Colder air manages to hang on along the east slopes from the Wenatchee Mts northward, resulting in an all snow event for these locations. 

A cold front quickly swings through around 4am Tuesday, once again ratcheting up the storm. Very strong to extreme and gusty winds, even at lower elevations, will combine with heavy snowfall to create blizzard-like conditions. Snow levels plummet behind the cold front and fall well below most trailhead elevations by the early morning. Very stormy weather continues throughout the day. By Tuesday afternoon, most locations will measure storm totals in feet, not 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
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow with gradual warming. Moderate SW winds.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds. Precipitation will be heavy at times with rising freezing levels.
Monday Generally light snow with very gradual warming. SSW winds becoming moderate.
Monday Night Stormy. Heavy precipitation, rising snow levels, and very strong and gusty winds.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow with gradual warming. Light to moderate SW winds.
Monday Night Stormy. Heavy precipitation, rising snow levels, and very strong and gusty winds.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow, with heavier precipitation on the volcanoes. Gradually warming. Light to moderate SW winds.
Monday Night Stormy. Heavy precipitation, rising snow levels, and very strong and gusty winds.
Monday Generally, light snow throughout the day. Light E flow at pass level increasing. Ridgeline winds SW and light.
Monday Night Stormy. Heavy precipitation, strong and gusty winds, and rising snow levels. Easterly flow turning westerly, with rain or freezing rain possible at Pass level. Then cooling.
Monday Light to occasionally moderate snow. Light E flow increasing in the afternoon. Ridgeline winds becoming SW and increasing slightly.
Monday Night Stormy. Heavy precipitation, strong and gusty winds, and rising snow levels. Freezing rain possible at Pass level, then rain. E flow turning W.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers. Light to moderate W winds turning SW.
Monday Night Stormy. Periods of heavy precipitation and strong and gusty winds. Slight warming.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate W winds.
Monday Night Stormy. Very strong and gusty winds with periods of heavier precipitation, especially near the Crest.
Monday Cloudy with light snow showers. Moderate W winds.
Monday Night Stormy. Very strong and gusty winds with periods of heavier precipitation, especially near the Crest.
Monday Moderate to heavy snow with rising snow levels. Strong and gusty winds.
Monday Night Stormy with extreme and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and rising snow levels.

Issued: 6:58 AM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Precipitation (in)

Monday Monday Night Tuesday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge 0.25 1.00 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area 0.25 - 0.50 1.50 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 0.50 1.50 - 2.00 1.00
Stevens Pass 0.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass 0.50 - 0.75 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 -1.00 0.75 -1.00
Paradise 1.00 1.50 - 2.00 1.50
White Pass 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass LT 0.25 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 0.25 - 0.50 1.00 0.75 -1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.25 0.75 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 1.00 - 1.50 1.50
Timberline 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 1.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday 1.00
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.50
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.50 - 0.75
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday 1.00
Monday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday 1.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday LT 0.25
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.50
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25 - 0.50
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday 0.25
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday 1.00
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday 1.00 - 1.50
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.50

Issued: 6:58 AM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 6:58 AM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Monday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 32 / 22 35 / 28
West North 28 / 18 31 / 26
West Central 28 / 19 31 / 24
West South 30 / 21 32 / 24
Stevens Pass 26 / 19 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 28 / 23 33 / 26
East North 23 / 14 27 / 18
East Central 27 / 18 30 / 25
East South 28 / 21 34 / 26
Mt. Hood 33 / 22 33 / 28
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 32 / 22
Monday Night 35 / 28
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 18
Monday Night 31 / 26
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 19
Monday Night 31 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 30 / 21
Monday Night 32 / 24
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 26 / 19
Monday Night 32 / 26
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 23
Monday Night 33 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 23 / 14
Monday Night 27 / 18
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 27 / 18
Monday Night 30 / 25
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 28 / 21
Monday Night 34 / 26
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday 33 / 22
Monday Night 33 / 28

Issued: 6:58 AM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Monday Morning Monday Afternoon Monday Evening Monday Night
Olympics SW 15-25 SW 15-25 SW 30-40 WSW 30-40
West North SSW 10-20 SSW 15-25 SSW 20-30 SW 30-40
West Central SW 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 30-40
West South SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 20-30 SW 30-40
Stevens Pass SW 5-15 SW 5-15 SW 10-20 SW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass WSW 5-15 SW 5-15 WSW 15-25 SW 25-35
East North W 10-20 SW 10-20 SW 15-25 SW 25-35
East Central W 15-25 W 15-25 WSW 25-35 WSW 35-50
East South W 15-25 W 15-25 WSW 25-35 WSW 35-50
Mt. Hood W 20-30 W 30-40 WSW 40-55 WSW 45-65
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SW 15-25
Monday Afternoon SW 15-25
Monday Evening SW 30-40
Monday Night WSW 30-40
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SSW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SSW 15-25
Monday Evening SSW 20-30
Monday Night SW 30-40
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SW 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 15-25
Monday Night SW 30-40
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 20-30
Monday Night SW 30-40
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning SW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Monday Evening SW 10-20
Monday Night SW 25-35
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning WSW 5-15
Monday Afternoon SW 5-15
Monday Evening WSW 15-25
Monday Night SW 25-35
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 10-20
Monday Afternoon SW 10-20
Monday Evening SW 15-25
Monday Night SW 25-35
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
Monday Evening WSW 25-35
Monday Night WSW 35-50
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 15-25
Monday Afternoon W 15-25
Monday Evening WSW 25-35
Monday Night WSW 35-50
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Monday Morning W 20-30
Monday Afternoon W 30-40
Monday Evening WSW 40-55
Monday Night WSW 45-65

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

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’.