Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 2024
by Dennis D'Amico

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

Weather Synopsis

4PM Update: Reduced cloud cover for Saturday. 

The dregs of a warm frontal system continue to bring precipitation to the area. The steadies and heaviest precipitation is oriented along the west slopes of the Cascades from the Canadian border to I-90 with spottier precipitation bands elsewhere. Temperatures are much milder along the west slopes of the Cascades and much colder along the east slopes of the Cascades. Variable snow levels and precipitation types can be found in the Cascade Passes and Mt Hood area.

The system will weaken and drift north this evening bringing an end to the storm. High pressure will briefly take control Friday night and Saturday as an upper low spinning off the coast of Oregon will start to rotate showers up from the south. There should be ample clouds around on Saturday but sunbreaks are likely in the afternoon, especially along the west slopes of the Cascades. The Passes and east slopes will see low clouds linger throughout the day. 

Showers will reach Mt Hood Saturday afternoon and spread northward Saturday night. Sunday looks like a wet end to the weekend with light to moderate precipitation throughout the area, heaviest over the Olympic Mountains and the west slopes of the Cascades. While the W-E dichotomy in temperatures and freezing levels will persist through the weekend, the air mass will moderate and snow levels will creep up even along the east slopes of the Cascades. There's a chance for spotty freezing rain in the Passes Sunday as temperatures warm but the low-level drag of cool easterly flow continues. 

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 Light rain and snow showers ending in the evening, then becoming cloudy.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain or snow showers in the afternoon.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers ending in the evening, then becoming cloudy.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy.
Friday Night Light rain and snow showers ending in the evening, then becoming cloudy.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy with a chance of light scattered snow showers in the evening.
Saturday Partly to mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds.
Saturday Mostly cloudy. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes. Light to moderate E-SE ridgeline and Pass level winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy with a chance of light scattered snow showers in the evening.
Saturday Mostly cloudy.
Friday Night Cloudy with a chance of light scattered snow showers in the evening.
Saturday Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy with a chance of light scattered snow showers in the evening.
Saturday Mostly cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds increasing in the afternoon.
Friday Night Cloudy. Moderate ridgeline winds.
Saturday Mostly cloudy in the morning, then scattered light rain and snow showers in the afternoon. Low clouds and cooler temperatures lower slopes. Moderate ridgeline winds become strong in the afternoon.

Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 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 LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.10 0 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 0.25
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise LT 0.10 0 0.25 0.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Washington Pass LT 0.10 0 0 LT 0.25
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 0 LT 0.10 LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 0 LT 0.25 LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Timberline 0 LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 0.50
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.25
Saturday LT 0.10
Saturday Night 0
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday 0.25
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0.25
Sunday 0.50
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night 0
Sunday LT 0.25
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.10
Sunday LT 0.25
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Friday Night LT 0.10
Saturday 0
Saturday Night LT 0.25
Sunday LT 0.25
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Friday Night 0
Saturday LT 0.25
Saturday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday 0.50

Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 2024

Snow Level (ft)

Friday Evening* Friday Night* Saturday Morning* Saturday Afternoon* Saturday Evening* Saturday Night* Sunday Morning* Sunday Afternoon*
Olympics 7500' 7500' 7000' 6500' 6500' 6000' 6000' 6000'
West North 7000' 7000' 7000' 6500' 6500' 5000' 4500' 4500'
West Central 7000' 7000' 7000' 5500' 4500' 3500' 4000' 4500'
West South 8000' 8000' 6500' 5000' 3500' 3500' 4000' 5000'
Stevens Pass 1500' 1500' 2000' 3000' 2500' 2500' 2500' 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass 6500' 7000' 7500' 5000' 3500' 3500' 3000' 4500'
East North 1000' 1500' 1500' 3500' 2500' 2000' 2500' 4000'
East Central 1000' 1500' 1500' 3000' 2500' 2000' 2500' 3500'
East South 1500' 1000' 1500' 3000' 2500' 2500' 3500' 4500'
Mt. Hood 9000' 7500' 5500' 4000' 3500' 5000' 6000' 6000'
Olympics Elevation
Friday Evening* 7500'
Friday Night* 7500'
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
Saturday Evening* 6500'
Saturday Night* 6000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'
West North Elevation
Friday Evening* 7000'
Friday Night* 7000'
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 6500'
Saturday Evening* 6500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 4500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
West Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 7000'
Friday Night* 7000'
Saturday Morning* 7000'
Saturday Afternoon* 5500'
Saturday Evening* 4500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
West South Elevation
Friday Evening* 8000'
Friday Night* 8000'
Saturday Morning* 6500'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 4000'
Sunday Afternoon* 5000'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 1500'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 2000'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Friday Evening* 6500'
Friday Night* 7000'
Saturday Morning* 7500'
Saturday Afternoon* 5000'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 3500'
Sunday Morning* 3000'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
East North Elevation
Friday Evening* 1000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3500'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4000'
East Central Elevation
Friday Evening* 1000'
Friday Night* 1500'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2000'
Sunday Morning* 2500'
Sunday Afternoon* 3500'
East South Elevation
Friday Evening* 1500'
Friday Night* 1000'
Saturday Morning* 1500'
Saturday Afternoon* 3000'
Saturday Evening* 2500'
Saturday Night* 2500'
Sunday Morning* 3500'
Sunday Afternoon* 4500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Friday Evening* 9000'
Friday Night* 7500'
Saturday Morning* 5500'
Saturday Afternoon* 4000'
Saturday Evening* 3500'
Saturday Night* 5000'
Sunday Morning* 6000'
Sunday Afternoon* 6000'

Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 2024

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Friday Night Saturday
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 38 / 36 39 / 34
West North 37 / 35 40 / 36
West Central 38 / 34 37 / 31
West South 34 / 32 38 / 31
Stevens Pass 29 / 25 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 33 / 26 33 / 26
East North 28 / 23 30 / 26
East Central 29 / 26 31 / 24
East South 29 / 27 33 / 27
Mt. Hood 35 / 32 34 / 31
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 38 / 36
Saturday 39 / 34
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 37 / 35
Saturday 40 / 36
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 38 / 34
Saturday 37 / 31
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 34 / 32
Saturday 38 / 31
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 25
Saturday 31 / 25
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 33 / 26
Saturday 33 / 26
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 28 / 23
Saturday 30 / 26
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 26
Saturday 31 / 24
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 29 / 27
Saturday 33 / 27
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Friday Night 35 / 32
Saturday 34 / 31

Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 2024

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

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

Issued: 4:03 PM PST Friday, January 19, 2024

Extended Weather Synopsis

The wet and not-cold-enough pattern for those who like winter will not stop anytime soon. A longwave trough will remain over the area Monday and Tuesday with the timing of showers hard to pin down. Snow levels will be in the 4000-6000' over this period.  The wet weather appears likely to stretch well into next week without a significant cool-down on the horizon. 

Extended Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Night* Monday * Monday Night* Tuesday *
West North 4500' 4500' 5000' 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass 4000' 5000' 5000' 5000'
Mt. Hood 6000' 6500' 6000' 5500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Night* 4500'
Monday * 4500'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday * 4500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Night* 4000'
Monday * 5000'
Monday Night* 5000'
Tuesday * 5000'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Night* 6000'
Monday * 6500'
Monday Night* 6000'
Tuesday * 5500'

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

Previous forecast from Jan 19, 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’.