Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 2024
by Robert Hahn

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

Weather Synopsis

Temperatures across the region remain well below normal but as the cold upper low moves east into the Great Plains, the surface high responsible for these temperatures gradually moderates. This allows temperatures to moderate across the region through Monday.

The compact closed low makes landfall in central Oregon Sunday evening. A deformation band on the north side of the low brings moderate to heavy snow to Mt Hood and the southernmost Washington Cascades through the evening hours, then tapering light snow showers overnight. Mt St Helens and Mt Adams should be on the fringe of the heavy snow and could pick up a quick 3-5" of snow while the Mt Rainier area may pick up an inch or so of snowfall. E flow decreases into the moderate range as pressure gradients ease across the Cascades.

By Sunday we've exited the worst of the recent cold air outbreak. Temperatures should be above 0F in most locations, although wind chills in through the mountain gaps may start the day below 0F. High temperatures will be 5-15 degrees warmer than Saturday near and east of the Cascade Crest but will be only a few degrees warmer in areas that already warmed up on Saturday further west. Expect mostly sunny skies with some high clouds filtering the sunshine in the afternoon. E winds may undercut west winds at ridgelines in the mountain gaps, but most winds will be light.

Dry NW flow continues to Monday night and Tuesday as an offshore high nudges toward the coast and continues the gradual warming trend. Expect light E flow to keep areas E of the Cascades and the mountain gaps cooler than normal.

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 Mid and high-level clouds decreasing.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds at times from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Mostly clear with some high clouds at times.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds at times from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Decreasing high clouds. Light ridgeline winds (elevated near the Cascade Crest).
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds at times from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy in the evening with a chance of light snow (southernmost part). Skies partially clearing overnight. Light ridgeline winds.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds at times from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Obscured skies in the evening, then clearing overnight. Light to occasionally moderate ridgeline and E winds decrease overnight. Very cold.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Obscured skies in the evening, then clearing overnight. Moderate ridgeline and E winds becoming light to moderate overnight. Very cold.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline and E winds at the Pass.
Saturday Night Skies clearing. Light winds. Bitterly cold.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Obscured skies clearing overnight. Light ridgeline winds. Bitterly cold.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Cloudy with light snow possible (southernmost part). Light to moderate ridgeline winds. Very cold.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Light ridgeline winds.
Saturday Night Heavy snow in the evening tapering to light snow showers overnight. Moderate to strong winds decreasing overnight.
Sunday Mostly sunny early with high clouds from late morning onwards. Moderate ridgeline winds.

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 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 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 0 0
Paradise LT 0.10 0 0 0
White Pass LT 0.10 0 0 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. LT 0.25 0 0 0
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 - 0.50 0 0 0
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0 0 0
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0
Sunday Night 0
Monday 0

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon* Sunday Evening* Sunday Night* Monday Morning* Monday Afternoon*
Olympics 0 0 0 500' 500' 0 500' 1500'
West North 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 1000'
West Central 0 0 0 500' 0 0 0 1000'
West South 0 0 0 500' 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 0
Mt. Hood 0 0 0 1000' 500' 0 0 500'
Olympics Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 500'
Monday Afternoon* 1500'
West North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
West Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
West South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 500'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 1000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
East North Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
East Central Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
East South Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 0'
Sunday Evening* 0'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Saturday Evening* 0'
Saturday Night* 0'
Sunday Morning* 0'
Sunday Afternoon* 1000'
Sunday Evening* 500'
Sunday Night* 0'
Monday Morning* 0'
Monday Afternoon* 500'

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Saturday Night Sunday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 21 / 17 27 / 18
West North 15 / 12 18 / 11
West Central 13 / 9 19 / 13
West South 13 / 4 25 / 15
Stevens Pass 0 / -7 20 / 1
Snoqualmie Pass 5 / -1 16 / 7
East North 0 / -12 14 / 0
East Central 0 / -7 19 / 0
East South 2 / -7 25 / 2
Mt. Hood 20 / 5 29 / 20
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 21 / 17
Sunday 27 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 15 / 12
Sunday 18 / 11
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 13 / 9
Sunday 19 / 13
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 13 / 4
Sunday 25 / 15
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 0 / -7
Sunday 20 / 1
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 5 / -1
Sunday 16 / 7
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 0 / -12
Sunday 14 / 0
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 0 / -7
Sunday 19 / 0
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 2 / -7
Sunday 25 / 2
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Saturday Night 20 / 5
Sunday 29 / 20

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 2:08 PM PST Saturday, January 13, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

Temperatures continue to moderate as a flattening ridge moves onshore Monday night and Tuesday. High clouds increase ahead of the next system tracking toward the Washington Coastline. With colder air east of the Cascades and increasing E flow through the mountain gaps, this precipitation should arrive as all snow for most of the Cascades. However, the Olympics could see snow levels rise to around 4000 ft when the precipitation arrives Tuesday afternoon. The frontal system spreads light to moderate snow through most of the region and moves onshore early Wednesday with the potential for a brief shift to W winds through the mountain gaps with post-frontal light snow showers before E flow returns.

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Monday Night* Tuesday * Tuesday Night* Wednesday *
West North 500' 1000' 1500' 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass 0 0 0 0
Mt. Hood 0 2000' 3500' 3500'
West North Elevation
Monday Night* 500'
Tuesday * 1000'
Tuesday Night* 1500'
Wednesday * 2000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 0'
Tuesday Night* 0'
Wednesday * 0'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Monday Night* 0'
Tuesday * 2000'
Tuesday Night* 3500'
Wednesday * 3500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 13, 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’.