Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2024
by Dallas Glass

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

Weather Synopsis

A major winter storm will continue to impact the region for the next 36 hours, creating blizzard-like conditions, heavy precipitation, and very strong and gusty winds. 

A warm front is situated over the Cascades this afternoon. Temperatures are steadily climbing on Mt Hood and Mt Rainier. This warm air shoves its way further north and east this evening. Snow levels will continue to climb and should top out around 3500ft in the north and 5500ft in the south. Cold air seems to hold on along the east side of the Cascades from about I90 northward. The Passes could be a bit messy. E flow will help stave off the warmer temperatures, but as winds shift more westerly, you'll likely see freezing rain and/or rain at Snoqualmie Pass and potentially Stevens/White Pass.

 A cold front quickly swings into the region overnight, bringing very strong to extreme winds and heavy precipitation for nearly every site in our forecast area. The front should cross the Cascades around 4am Tuesday morning. After it does so, snow levels come crashing down, falling back below most trailhead elevations by mid-morning. Even after the front passes, heavy precipitation and very strong winds continue throughout the day. 

The storm isn't done yet. A short-wave feature swings into the area from the NW and helps reinvigorate shower activity. With a cold, unstable airmass in place, locally heavy snow showers should add to the impressive storm totals. Things start to quiet down by Wednesday morning. Lingering moisture, northwesterly flow, and very cold temperatures will help keep low-density snow falling in the mountains. 

 

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 Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and gradually warming temperatures.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures. E flow turning W with a significant bump in freezing levels. Chance of freezing rain and rain at Pass level.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty W winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures. E flow turning W with a significant bump in freezing levels. Chance of freezing rain and rain at Pass level.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty W winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.
Monday Night Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation and winds becoming strong and gusty.
Tuesday Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation and strong and gusty winds. Slight warming in the afternoon.
Monday Night Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation near the crest. Very strong and gusty W winds becoming extreme.
Tuesday Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation near the crest. Extreme W winds.
Monday Night Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation near the crest. Very strong and gusty W winds becoming extreme.
Tuesday Stormy with periods of heavy precipitation near the crest. Extreme W winds.
Monday Night Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and warming temperatures.
Tuesday Stormy with very strong and gusty winds, heavy precipitation, and cooling temperatures.

Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 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 0.75 -1.00 1.00 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area 1.50 - 2.00 1.50 0.75 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass 1.50 - 2.00 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass 1.00 - 1.50 0.75 -1.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.25
Crystal Mt 0.75 -1.00 1.00 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.25
Paradise 2.00 1.50 - 2.00 0.50 - 0.75 0.25
White Pass 1.00 1.00 0.50 0.25
Washington Pass 1.00 1.00 0.25 LT 0.10
Mission Ridge 0.25 - 0.50 0.50 LT 0.25 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head 1.00 1.00 0.50 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. 0.75 0.75 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 1.00 0.50
Timberline 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 1.00 - 1.50 0.50 - 0.75
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday 1.50
Tuesday Night 0.75
Wednesday 0.25
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.75 -1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 2.00
Tuesday 1.50 - 2.00
Tuesday Night 0.50 - 0.75
Wednesday 0.25
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Tuesday 0.50
Tuesday Night LT 0.25
Wednesday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.00
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 0.50
Wednesday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 0.75
Tuesday 0.75
Tuesday Night 0.25
Wednesday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday 1.00
Tuesday Night 1.00
Wednesday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Monday Night 1.50
Tuesday 1.00 - 1.50
Tuesday Night 1.00 - 1.50
Wednesday 0.50 - 0.75

Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

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

Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Monday Night Tuesday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 35 / 25 30 / 24
West North 30 / 23 28 / 24
West Central 32 / 25 28 / 24
West South 33 / 24 27 / 23
Stevens Pass 32 / 22 28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 23 29 / 24
East North 27 / 17 28 / 21
East Central 30 / 24 27 / 22
East South 34 / 25 29 / 23
Mt. Hood 35 / 27 29 / 23
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 25
Tuesday 30 / 24
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 23
Tuesday 28 / 24
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 25
Tuesday 28 / 24
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 24
Tuesday 27 / 23
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 32 / 22
Tuesday 28 / 24
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 33 / 23
Tuesday 29 / 24
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 27 / 17
Tuesday 28 / 21
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 30 / 24
Tuesday 27 / 22
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 34 / 25
Tuesday 29 / 23
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Monday Night 35 / 27
Tuesday 29 / 23

Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 1:48 PM PST Monday, January 8, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

We find ourselves under a broad open trough as the big storm exits. This pattern often leads to cold, snowy periods, but pinpointing any individual storm can be pretty tricky. A developing short-wave system seems to swing through the Pacific Northwest on Thursday and again on Friday, increasing snow showers across the mountains. Uncertainty with both systems is high. However, with a very cold air mass in place, it won't take much moisture to produce impressive snow totals. Whatever the outcomes, the 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Wednesday Night Thursday Thursday Night Friday
West North 0 500' 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1000' 0 0
Mt. Hood 2000' 2000' 2500' 1000'
West North Elevation
Wednesday Night 0'
Thursday 500'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Wednesday Night 500'
Thursday 1000'
Thursday Night 0'
Friday 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Wednesday Night 2000'
Thursday 2000'
Thursday Night 2500'
Friday 1000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 8, 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’.