Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

The coldest air mass in recent memory impacts the Pacific Northwest through the weekend. The arctic front responsible for the extreme temperatures pushed south of Mt Hood into central Oregon on Friday afternoon, cutting off the moisture feed off the Pacific that brought massive amounts of snowfall to Mt Hood the last few days. The arctic front opened the door to Fraser outflow winds which peaked early Friday but continue to bring unusually cold air into the Puget Sound lowlands. 

The most extreme temperatures for the Olympics and the northernmost Cascades were Thursday night. However, the E slopes of the Cascades will experience their coldest temperatures Friday night into early Saturday as low-level E flow ramps. 5000 ft highs may also struggle to top 0F in some areas. The extreme temperatures will be even more impactful given the moderate to strong winds through the Passes, bringing wind chills below -20F. Winds in the foothills west of the mountain gaps will also gust in the 40-55 mph range.

Meanwhile, a compact system moving toward the Oregon coast brings moderate to heavy snow to Mt Hood Saturday afternoon and evening. The outer fringes of the snowfall may or may not brush Mt St Helens and Mt Adams, but mid and high-level clouds will partially obscure skies for much of the region on Saturday.

The closed low impacting Oregon departs by Sunday. Sunday's temperatures won’t be quite as extreme, with temperatures moderating 5-10F. Expect mostly sunny skies and decreasing E winds. Temperatures climb into the 10s and low 20s by the afternoon. 

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
Friday Night Thin, high clouds. Light ridgeline winds. Very cold.
Saturday Increasing high and mid-level clouds. Light ridgeline winds. Cold.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Light ridgeline winds. Bitterly cold.
Saturday Mostly sunny with some thin high clouds. Light ridgeline winds. Bitterly cold.
Friday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds. Bitterly cold.
Saturday Mostly sunny with high clouds thicker in the southern part. Moderate ridgeline winds. Bitterly cold.
Friday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline winds are strongest near White Pass. Bitterly cold.
Saturday Filtered sunshine in the morning with high clouds gradually lowering. Moderate ridgeline winds are strongest near White Pass. Bitterly cold.
Friday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds. Bitterly cold. Increasing light to moderate ridgeline and E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Thickening high and mid-level clouds may obscure the sunshine. Moderate ridgeline and light to moderate E winds at the Pass.
Friday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds. Bitterly cold. Increasing moderate to occasionally strong ridgeline and moderate E wind at the Pass.
Saturday Thickening high and mid-level clouds obscure the sun. Moderate to strong ridgeline and moderate E winds at the Pass.
Friday Night Mostly clear. Extremely cold. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly sunny with thin high clouds. Light ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Mostly clear with thin high clouds. Bitterly cold. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Filtered sunshine in the morning with obscured skies in the afternoon. Bitterly cold. Light ridgeline winds.
Friday Night Increasing high and mid-level clouds. Bitterly cold. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Obscured skies with a slight chance of light snow developing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Occasional snow showers or cloudy skies. Decreasing moderate ridgeline winds. Cold.
Saturday Cloudy with increasing light to moderate and possibly heavy snow during the late morning through afternoon hours.

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024

Precipitation (in)

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

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 500'
West North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
West Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
West South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
Stevens Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East North 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
East South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 500'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 0'
Friday Night* 0'
Saturday Morning* 0'
Saturday Afternoon* 0'
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 17 / 0 29 / 17
West North 2 / -5 18 / 3
West Central 4 / -1 15 / 1
West South 6 / 3 11 / 0
Stevens Pass -5 / -7 4 / -7
Snoqualmie Pass -2 / -4 8 / -3
East North -20 / -22 -9 / -21
East Central -8 / -10 4 / -9
East South -2 / -9 6 / -8
Mt. Hood 20 / 7 16 / 7
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 17 / 0
Saturday 29 / 17
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 2 / -5
Saturday 18 / 3
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 4 / -1
Saturday 15 / 1
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 6 / 3
Saturday 11 / 0
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night -5 / -7
Saturday 4 / -7
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night -2 / -4
Saturday 8 / -3
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night -20 / -22
Saturday -9 / -21
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night -8 / -10
Saturday 4 / -9
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night -2 / -9
Saturday 6 / -8
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 20 / 7
Saturday 16 / 7

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Friday Evening Friday Night Saturday Morning Saturday Afternoon
Olympics ESE 0-10 SSW 0-10 SW 0-10 ESE 0-10
West North ENE 0-10 SE 0-10 SE 0-10 E 0-10
West Central SE 5-15 SE 10-20 SE 10-20 ESE 15-25
West South SSE 5-15 SSE 10-20 SE 10-20 ESE 15-25
Stevens Pass ESE 5-15 ESE 10-20 ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass ESE 10-20 ESE 15-25 ESE 20-30 ESE 20-30
East North ESE 0-10 SSE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
East Central NE 0-10 S 0-10 SE 0-10 ESE 0-10
East South WSW 0-10 S 0-10 SSE 0-10 SE 5-15
Mt. Hood WSW 15-25 WSW 10-20 SSE 5-15 SE 0-10
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening ESE 0-10
Friday Night SSW 0-10
Saturday Morning SW 0-10
Saturday Afternoon ESE 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening ENE 0-10
Friday Night SE 0-10
Saturday Morning SE 0-10
Saturday Afternoon E 0-10
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SE 5-15
Friday Night SE 10-20
Saturday Morning SE 10-20
Saturday Afternoon ESE 15-25
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening SSE 5-15
Friday Night SSE 10-20
Saturday Morning SE 10-20
Saturday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening ESE 5-15
Friday Night ESE 10-20
Saturday Morning ESE 10-20
Saturday Afternoon ESE 15-25
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening ESE 10-20
Friday Night ESE 15-25
Saturday Morning ESE 20-30
Saturday Afternoon ESE 20-30
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening ESE 0-10
Friday Night SSE 5-15
Saturday Morning SE 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SE 5-15
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening NE 0-10
Friday Night S 0-10
Saturday Morning SE 0-10
Saturday Afternoon ESE 0-10
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 0-10
Friday Night S 0-10
Saturday Morning SSE 0-10
Saturday Afternoon SE 5-15
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Friday Evening WSW 15-25
Friday Night WSW 10-20
Saturday Morning SSE 5-15
Saturday Afternoon SE 0-10

Issued: 2:05 PM PST Friday, January 12, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Temperatures remain below seasonal norms Sunday night through Monday night, but gradually warm under sunny skies. NW flow aloft continues as an offshore ridge edges eastward. Expect continued light to moderate E flow keeping the mountain passes and E slopes of the Cascades the slowest to moderate.  The ridge begins to flatten on Tuesday as a system approaches the coast. Snow levels with this system and whether or not the precipitation reaches the PNW on Tuesday both remain uncertain.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 0 500' 1000' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 500'
Mt. Hood 500' 500' 500' 2000'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday * 500'
Monday Night* 1000'
Tuesday * 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday * 0'
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 500'
Monday * 500'
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday * 2000'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 12, 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’.